rs 2030 
.03 
Copy 1 




1879-1880. 

By Dr. Franklin. 

NEW-YORK : 
FRANKLIN B. GARDNER, Publisher, 

FRANKLIN SQUARE. 



THE 



Painters' Almanac 



Fi)K THE 



Half-years of 1879 & 1880. 



Calculated for the use of Carriage, Wagon and Car Painters in all parts of the 

Temperate Zone. 



By Dr. Franklin 



Q^' -^/JTA^C^ *^ 



NEW-YORK : 

FRANKLIN B. GARDNER, Pl blisher, 
Franklin Square, q'^ 



W 



is o^^ 1879. .0^. 








i-^. 



-4° 



&^ 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, ^'V 

FRANKLIN B. GARDNER, 
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, 1). C. 



Hub Publishing Co. of New- York, 

Printers to the Carriage Trade. 



PREFACE 



In presenting a detailed description of the various operations neces- 
sary to complete a first-class job of Carriage-painting , I am aicare 
that I take upon myself a heavy task, and that my statements are 
liable to be adversely criticised by some of the craft. But I feel that 
my endeavors to shed light in some dark corner of the Paint-shop will 
be appreciated by a majority of my readers, and particularly by 
those who know the difficulties which environ the ivriter on technical 
subjects. 

^^ The American Method of Carriage-painting'''' is now admitted to 
be the one ivhich gives the best satisfaction, by the leading Carriage- 
builders of this country and of Europe, and its adoption in their 
workshops gives further evidence of their appreciation of its fitness for 
the very best work. Therefore it is to this Method that I shall call 
particular attention in the following ijages. 

It must be noted, however, that although a Daily Record is given 
of WHAT TO DO to produce eminently superior work by this Method, 
there are many roads leading to the same point or destination ; and 
those who prefer ^^ rapid transit^'' to the more staid and homely 
means of reaching that point, may please their fancy without impair- 
ing, in any great degree, the result they aim to produce. I shall, 
possibly, lay out a ''rapid transit ^^ mode of Painting a Carriage 



or Sleigh ere the three hundred and thirteen working-days of this 
Ahnanac are completed, but in entering upon the ivork my desire is 
to show how to Paint a Job in the best manner. 

My experience in the ivoi^king of this system, and the exertions made 
to bring it to a successful issue, while holding a prominent position in 
the Painting Department of Brewster (t Co., {of Broome-st.,) New 
York, together with extended journeyings among the Carriage-shops 
of the United States, has given me the means of knowing whereof I 
speak, and my aim has been to correctly write out such knowledge, 
hoping that it would at least merit a careful study by the apprentice, 
and perhaps be the means of guiding some fellow -workman into a 
path more thickly strewyi with roses than with thorns. 

FRANKLIN B. GARDNER. 



1879 



JULY. 



1879 



^' When others do your work excel, 
Then strive to do your work as well. 



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Tuesday, 1. 

ONE THING AT A TIME. 



When starting in life for yourself, my boy, 

Be careful how you begin ; 
Oh, don't be too anxious for gain, my boy, 

Or else you never will win. 

One thing at a time is enough to do, 
But see that it is in your line ; 

Remember the adage, as old and true- 
Too many clusters break the vine. 



Wednesday, 2. 

Preparations are now being made to celebrate the Anniversary of 
the Independence of the United States on the 4th, and it is one of the 
standing rules in all well-regulated shops, that a general cleaning-up 
shall be made, particularly in the paint-shop, and care be taken that 



JULY, 187 9 



ail inflammable substances shall be well stored away in safe places ; 
that all broken panes of glass shall be repaired, in order to prevent 
the entrance of fire-works through the carelessness of the fire-cracker 
brigade, and that there be as little unfinished work on hand as 
possible. 

Thursday, 3. 

No MAN ever finished his work, for each task is but a preparation, 
which, being completed, should be put under our feet, that we may 
thenceforward labor on a higher level. Thus, no true worker was 
ever satisfied w4th what he accomplished, for by doing that he had 
quahfied himself to do something better. 

Friday, 4-. 

Independence Day : let it be celebrated in a joyful manner, but do 
not enter into the festivities with such vigor and in such a manner 
that thy morrow will be o'ershadowed by pains which rack thy brain 
or cause thee to regret thy doings upon this glorious Fourth. 

Saturday, 5. 

This day being the last one of the broken week, why not devote the 
time to thoughts of the future ? Prepare for a new era in your shop. 
Look about you, and you find your competitors in trade are improv- 
ing. They possibly have adopted the modern way of doing work. 
^' The American Method of Carriage-painting " has been proved a suc- 
cess, and why not adopt it ? To aid you in carrying out the method, 
we append hereto full and expHcit directions for each day's work, 
beginning with 

Monday, 7. 

Begin to-day by applying to a new body a coat of Permanent Wood 
Filling. Lay the material on with a clean brush, then immediately 
wipe off all you can with clean rags, leaving none on the surface, as 
in a coat of paint or varnish. Paint the parts inside the body which 
are canvassed, with slush paint. 

Tuesday, 8. 

This day may be given for the drying of the P. W. F. , and if it is a 
damp day keep the job in a warm room, otherwise place it in the sun 



JULY, 1879. 



and air. The woodwork of the gears may now be coated with P. W. 
F. and wiped off in the same manner as the body, after which they 
may be sent to the smith-shop to be ironed. 

Wednesday, 9. 

The body having stood in a good drying atmosphere, is now ready 
for a coat of Valentine's Ground Eoughstuff. Use this material just 
as it comes from the maker, excepting in this first coat a very little 
raw oil may be added to give it the required elasticity ; thin to a 
working consistency with turpentine, and lay on smoothly. 

Thursday, 10. 

The coat of roughstuff now being dry, we may putty up all nail- 
holes and imperfections in the surface with putty made as follows : 
Take equal portions of dry white-lead and whiting in bulk (not weight) 
and add one -half the quantity of keg-lead (lead ground in oil). Mix 
them together by pounding with a wooden mallet, using as a thinning 
or mixing liquid equal parts of Crown Coach Japan and rubbing 
varnish. This putty will harden in twelve hours, and is not apt to 
shrink or crumble from out the holes. 

Friday, II. 

The putty being dry and the roughstuff coat well hardened, the 
second coat of roughstuff is now in order. Apply the roughstuff 
without the addition of oil this time ; simply thin it a little with 
turpentine. It is a good plan to lay the roughstuff across the grain 
of the previous coat, and care should be taken that no brush-marks be 
left in the w^ork, for they will certainly show in the finish. The 
roughstuff must be laid evenly and as smoothly as it can be to bring 
about good results. 

Saturday, 12. 

You may let the smith take the body to-day, to hang it up and fit 
irons, and as he will probably keep it in his department two days, we 
will have ample time, in the absence of other work, to take a retro- 
spective view and see what we have accomplished. 



JULY, 1879. 



Monday, 14. 

The priming coat of P. W. F. on the body has closed the pores of 
the wood against the entrance of all other liquids, although it does 
not appear to have done so. We know by experiment and tests that 
dampness will not enter the wood, neither will the oils from sub- 
sequent coats be absorbed, and surely that is a strong point in favor 
of durability. 

Tuesday, 15. 

The coat of P. W. F. put upon the wheels, beds, bars, etc., of the 
gears, was done as a protection against the oils, smoke and water 
of the smith-shop, and we call it the ''preventive coat." It will 
eventually be cut off with sandpaper. It is very beneficial to the 
work, and should not be neglected. 



Wednesday, 16. 

The carriage being ironed, now returns to the paint-shop, where it 
is filed and sandpapered until the whole is clean and smooth. You 
should remember that the better the condition of the job at this 
stage, the better the finish will be, and less labor will be necessary to 
finish it. 

Thursday, 17. 

All smoked or burned places on the body being scraped clean, the 
third coat of roughstuff may now be applied, using the mixture as it 
comes from the manufacturer, excepting the thinning with turpentine, 
to have it work easily. The gears are now ready for the priming 
coat of P. W. F., which should be put on over wood and iron alike, 
then well wiped off with clean rags. 

Friday, 18. 

The fourth and last coat of I'oughstuff is now in order. The P. "VV. 
F. on gears having stood forty-eight hours is now quite dry, and you 
may now putty over any open-grained places or other imperfections 
w^th soft putty. Late in the afternoon a coat of '' staining" (yellow 
ochre or Indian red) may be put over the roughstuff. 



JULY, 1879. 



Saturday, 19. 

It will be best to allow the body to stand to-day for the roughstuff 
to harden. The gears may be lightly sandpapered over the parts 
puttied, and to insure the surface against absorption, a light coating 
of P. W. F. should be given, particularly over the putty, and the 
whole well wiped off with clean rags. 

Monday, 21. 

Select some good pumice-stone lumps and ''rub the body out of 
roughstuff," after which allow it to stand at least eight hours (or 
over night) for the water to evaporate from the porous roughstuff 
surface. The gears are now ready for color ; and after dusting them 
well apply the color (say lampblack) with a camel's-hair brush. 



Tuesday, 22. 

The body being dry, apply a thin coat of P. W. F. to the rubbed 
surface, to close up the pores of the roughstuff ; wipe oft* very care 
fully and stand the job aside to dry. The gears may now be " mossed 
off " and have the second coat of color (ivory black) laid on with a 
camel's-hair brush. 



Wednesday, 23. 

Gently rub the surface of the body with the back of a piece of sand- 
paper : dust off and apply a " ground " coat of lampblack. The gears 
may now receive black color-and- varnish ; lay it on plentifully and 
''dress" it as well as if it were a finishing coat ; besides, keep it as 
clean as possible, to save labor in future operations. 



Thursday, 24. 

This day should be devoted to coloring the body and getting the 
irons and loose pieces in proper order, to keep up with the rest of the 
job. The gears are left to dry in a clean place. Late in the afternoon 
the first coat of Black Japan, or color-and- varnish, may be put upon 
the body, using good varnish-brushes for the work. 



10 JULY, 1879. 



Friday, 25. 

Black Japan is considered best for all black work, although some 
who are unaccustomed to it prefer color-and- varnish. The Japan 
makes a deeper jet black, and sets off any color that comes in close 
connection with it. It sets quickly, and must be handled in a lively 
manner — a knack easily learned. Too much ''dressing" injures the 
work. 



Saturday, 26. 

The body should now be lightly rubbad with pulverized pumice-stone 
and water, and receive a coat of Black Japan having about five per 
cent, of hard-drying body-varnish added to it. The gears may now 
be rubbed down with pumice-stone and water, and be striped. 

Good stripers, as a general rule, give the preference to flat or 
"dagger" striping pencils, and say that they can do better work 
with them. If you have never used these pencils you will no doubt 
have some difficulty with them at first ; but nil desperandiim ; prac- 
tice until you can handle them at will. 



Monday, 28. 

Now rub the body and prepare it for the third and last coat of 
Black Japan or color-and-varnish, adding, say, ten per cent, of hard- 
drying body- varnish to the Japan. This renders it more elastic, and 
also tends to make it work better under the brush. In rubbing the 
Black Japan surface you may '' cut through," and in order to " touch 
up " such places, first coat them with dead-quick black, then glaze 
over with ordinary asphaltum (purchased at the nearest paint-store) 
thinned with turpentine, which will give the jet black color of the 
Japan. 

The gears may now be washed off and receive a medium heavy coat 
of Elastic leveling varnish. 



Tuesday, 29. 

The body may now be taken in hand by the trimmer, and he will 
probably require one day to complete his work. 



JULY, 1879. 11 

Wednesday, 30. 

The body having returned from the trimming- shop, dust off and 
give ifc a careful rubbing with pumice-stone ; wash clean, then rub 
over again with fine rotten-stone and water touch up any bare places, 
and apply the finishing coat of Valentine's Wearing Body Varnish. 
Rub off gears and finish them by flowing on a coat of Valentine's Elas- 
tic Gear Varnish. We have shown that a piece of work may be done 
in a first-class manner inside of four weeks, and in the same manner 
a heavy job — say a landau worth twenty-five hundred dollars — may be 
done ; the only difference would be the smith and the trimmer would 
require a longer time in which to complete their work. 

Thursday, 31. 

Give this day for the varnish to harden, which, providing your 
varnish-room is supplied with a ventilator, will go on rapidly and 
well. Keep the temperature of your room up to about 75 degrees 
Fahrenheit. You may then ''hang up" the job, "black off" bolt- 
heads, etc., and run it into show-room when "blacking off" is dry, 
wash off the whole job with clean cold water, di'y well with a clean 
shammy, and the work is done. 

Advancement will probably come to you far more slowly than your 
aspirations. Almost all permanent good is of slow growth. The 
coral- workers build up their massive islands grain by grain. One of 
the world's distinguished workers had this picture hanging upon his 
wall where his eye could often rest upon it : Only a man with his coat 
off, a pick in his hand, with which he was delving away at the base 
of a mountain, and below it this motto, " Little by little," Take this 
for your motto, and never fear but the mountain of difficulty will give 
way before your persistent strokes. 

The various processes detailed as above are plainly shown by a 
"Chart," pubHshed by Messrs. Valentine & Company, w^hich will be 
sent on apphcation to them. 

This Chart gives the "slow" and "quick" methods of painting 
bodies, gears, and sleighs. 



1879 



AUGUST 



1879 



Never let your reputation tarnish 

By doing your work with common varnish. 



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Friday, I. 

NIL DESPERANDUM. 



Work with a will : half-way efforts are futile : 
When a task is before j'ou, with zeal "buckle to ; " 

Tis only by earnest and steady endeavor 
You can fitlj^ accomplish the object in view. 

Work with a will, for in life there's no station 

So lowly that Industry cannot adorn ; 
'Tis honored by all whose esteem is worth having : 

They dishonor themselves who dare treat it with scorn. 

Saturday, 2. 

This month is generally the hottest of the year in the United States, 
and the finisher is frequently troubled with the deviltries caused by 
excessive heat, such as sweating, pitting pinholing. etc. The varnish- 



14 AUGUST, 1879. 

room should be well ventilated, either by ventilators in the windows 
or by a pipe running through the ceihng and roof, or the amount of 
oxygen in the room will be insufficient to harden the varnish. 



Monday, 4-. 

MIXING COLORS. — It is the custom of many painters when about 
to put several pigments together to form a desired color, to mix the 
dry pigments upon the stone into one mass and then grind them in 
the mill; and it is frequently by this means that dull or "lifeless" 
colors are produced. To produce perfect colors, let the painter mix 
and grind into separate cups the pigments requii^ed to make the color 
wanted, and then add one to the other until the desired shade or tone 
of color is produced. By this means all the freshness of the color 
will be retained, a more perfect commingling of the particles will be 
insured, and there will be less liability of separation, or the settling 
of one heavy pigment from the others in the cup, which is so sure to 
destroy the uniformity of coloring. 

Tuesday, 5. 

Deserve friends and you will have them. The world is teeming 
with kind-hearted people, and you have only to carry a kind, sympa- 
thetic heart in your own bosom to call out goodliness and friendliness 
from others. It is a mistake to expect to receive welcome, hospi- 
tality, words of cheer, and help over rugged and difficult passes in 
life, in return for cold selfishness, which cares for nothing in the world 
but self. 



Wednesday, 6. 

IMPROVING CARRIAGE-TOPS.— The best preparation in use for 
dressing or refinishing old leather carriage-tops is Valentine's Enam- 
eled Leather Varnish. It is a thin, black dressing, and may be applied 
to the leather with an ordinary paint-brush. The leather should first 
be well washed with Castile soap and water to remove grease, and to 
soften it ; then a single application of the varnish will give the top 
the appearance of a new one, and in half an hour it may be run out 
into the street. 



AUGUST, 1879. is 

Thursday, 7. 

A GENTLEMAN caught a iiegro carrying off some of his fancy poultry 
the other night. " What are you doing with my chickens ? " he yelled. 
''I wuz gwine fer ter fetch 'em back, boss. Dere's a nigger 'round 
here what's been 'sputin' longer me 'bout dem chick'ns. I sed dey 
wuz Coachin' Chyniz, an' he sed dey wuz Alabamer puUits, an' I wuz 
jist takin' 'em fer ter 'stablish my nollege. Dey don't lay no aigs, 
does dey, boss ? Ef dey does, I'm mighty 'shamed er hustlin' uv 'em 
'round. Aigs is scase." 

Friday, 8. 

GREASY COLOR. — It is sometimes the case that a coat of rub- 
bing-varnish crawls or enamels on some colors, while on others it 
does not do so. The cause is due to what is known among painters 
as '^ greasy color ; " that is, the color, if not mixed with oil, is in itself 
of a greasy nature, and drying with a smooth, oily surface, the varnish 
does not readily adhere to it. By simply washing or wiping this greasy 
color with a damp shammy no trouble wiU be experienced. 



Saturday, 9. 

How pleasant it is to be able to be independent of others and able to 
manage your own affairs in your own way ! You feel some satisfac- 
tion in having accomplished something by your own unaided efforts, 
and if you go on trying to improve, success is sure to follow. In this 
world of gain good judgment is an important matter, and it is gained 
by earnest study and the habit of seeing whatever one looks at. 



Monday, II. 

CLEAN VARNISH-CUPS.— It is next to impossible to put on a 
clean coat of varnish when a cup that is covered both inside and out 
with old gummy and partially dried varnish is used for holding it. 
Every time the brush is wiped over the edge some of the old gum will 
be removed and at last be found upon the work. Varnish-cups should 
be left in a bath of strong potash-lye until every particle of varnish is 
eaten off, then rinsed in clean water and dried with a clean shammy. 



16 AUGUST, 1879 



Tuesday, 12. 

It is false economy to work all night and remain in bed for hours 
the next morning, when if you retire at a seasonable time you will 
gain a good night's rest, and arise refreshed and ready to com'mence 
work in the bright sunlight, which is far better than any artificial 
illumination that can be produced. If you hear of persons complain- 
ing that they are no better off at the end of the year for all their 
economy, you may, as a general thing, conclude that the economy 
they have been practising is not the true kind. 

Wednesday, 13. 

.4 WORLD WITHIN ITSELF.— ^vevy varnish-room should be pro- 
vided with a thermometer and a barometer : the former to indicate the 
temperature of the room, the latter to show when a change in the 
weather is likely to occur ; and with these two tell-tales hung upon 
the wall the varnisher may so regulate the climate or atmosphere of 
the room — providing he has the necessary heating and ventilating 
arrangements — as to make it, as the saying is, "a world within itself.'^ 

Thursday, I4-. 

"Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is 
nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has the 
more he wants. Instead of its filling a vacuum it makes one. If it 
satisfies one want, it doubles and trebles that want another way. That 
was a true proverb of the wise man — rest upon it : ' Better is little 
with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.' '^ 
— Franklin. 

Friday, 15. 

THE VARNISH-BOOM FLOOR.— The best floor yet devised for a 
varnish-room is one made of pine plank, double-laid, and having a 
gentle incline from one side to the other ; then on the lowest side a 
sort of gutter should be made to lead off water through a pipe or 
pipes to the outer world. This floor should be well painted with 
refuse paint from the shop, commonly known as "slush." This 
serves to prevent absorption of water by the floor, and thus over- 



AUGUST, 1879. 17 

comes, in most cases, that ''deviltry" known as "pitting." A floor 
covered with tin or zinc is objectionable, owing to the liability to 
puncture it with irons or sharp-edged tire. 

Saturday, 16. 

It is certainly a fact that some people can make money ' ' go 
farther " than others ; that is, they can procure more comforts for a 
given sum expended than their neighbors. A man in New York, 
recently, with one dollar, got a shave, a breakfast, a paper collar, a 
pack of cigarettes, had lunch, beer, dinner for tw^o, consisting of soup, 
fish, maccaroni with cheese, beefsteak, apples and peanuts, attended 
a concert, got lodging for the night and a cup of coffee in the 
morning, and had five cents left, with w-hich he purchased a ticket on 
the Elevated Eailroad and went eight miles to Harlem. 

Monday, 18. 

BLACK JAPAN. — Black Japan, which is used in the place of color- 
and- varnish upon the black portions of a carriage, is a perfect jet 
black, and far superior in every respect to ivory black or color-and- 
varnish. It is quite " quick-drying," and in order to make first-class 
work with, it the painter must understand its peculiarities, one of 
which is this "quick-setting" quality, necessitating a rapid move- 
ment of the brush; but the "knack" of handling this material 
once learned, we feel assured no return to ordinary color-and- varnish 
wall be made, and no trouble will be experienced in laying it off, pro- 
viding the painter operates the brush in a lively manner, making no 
more motions with the hand than necessary to properly level the 
varnish. 

Tuesday, 19. 

PERMANENT WOOD FILLING.— The letters P. W. F. are the 
initials of Permanent Wood Filling, a preparation designed as a prim- 
ing over wood and iron, to take the place of lead-paint on carriages. 
If fills the pores of the luoocl completely and permanently. Being a 
hquid, it penetrates and fills every pore, and imparts to the w^ood a 
firm and superior surface for sustaining the coats of paint and varnish 
which follow. It is manufactured by Valentine & Company, 823 



18 AUGUST, 1879. 

Pearl-street, and is sold in cans of one and five gallons capacity, at 
four dollars per gallon. It forms an important feature in the system 
known as "The American Method of Carriage-painting," which has 
been adopted by all the leading carriage-makers in this country, and 
many in France, Germany and England. 

Wednesday, 20. 

That only can be spoken of as a icork of art which represents the 
beautiful and perfected thought of one master-mind. Many hands 
may assist in its realization, but the conception of the w^hole must be 
individual, and it must be one of beauty rather than one of mere 
utility. — George Houghton. 

Thursday, 21. 

There is a rule which never fails, and it reads as follows : The least 
paint applied to a body or gear, and have a smooth surface, the 
better. Close up the pores of the wood and under-coats of paint, 
and the brilliancy and fullness of the varnish will be ensured. It will 
require several applications of lead-paint to do the same amount of 
Jilling, or closing of the pores, as it will of P. W. F. The latter enters 
the pores and closes them at once, although to the casual observer it 
does not appear to do so. When once the pores are filled no further 
absorption will take place, and the varnish drying on the surface w4th 
its full complement of oil, will be far more durable than where a 
portion of the oil is absorbed. 

Friday, 22. 

CHIPPED WORK.— As a general thing, paint that is easily chipped 
from its foundation will not be improved by putting paint over it. 
However, w^e have seen work of that description done, with good re- 
sults, as follows : Sandpaper down quite well with coarse sandpaper 
and lay on a coat of Permanent Wood Filling ; let stand an hour to 
soak in, then wipe off with rags ; give forty-eight hours to dry, and 
lay on elastic coats in subsequent i^ainting. Japan brow^n or a black 
may be made by using Valentine's Black Japan (adding a little ver- 
milion or Indian red for the brown). This being much more elastic 
than ordinary color, it tends to bind the chipping foundation of old 
paint, and wdll make an excellent job. 



AUGUST, 1879. 19 

Saturday, 23. 

VARNISH CHANGING COLOR.— Anj finishing varnish, if ex- 
posed to a storm or even a heavy dew before it is thoroughly hard- 
ened, will turn white or blue. But when Valentine's Wearing Body 
or Elastic Gear is well dried before it is exposed to the elements, it 
ivill not ^^ bloom ^' (the proper term for this deviltry), as exjDerience 
has proved in many instances. The repeated blooming of varnish is 
highly detrimental to its lustre, even if its durability be not impaired, 
and a varnish that will not bloom should be the demand of a first-class 
workman. 

Monday, 25. 

The following are a few of the maxims of Benjamin Franklin : 

*' Trade is the mother of money." 

'' Be beforehand with your business." 

'* Spend and be free, but make no waste." 

" Credit is like a looking-glass — easily broken." 

'^ Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee." 

* ' They never thrive who spend their time in beer-houses and in 
gaming-houses. " 

Tuesday, 26. 

JAPAN GOLD-SIZE. — This is a dryer for paints, and is used in a 
similar manner to Brown Japan or Crown Coach Japan. It is stronger 
and better than Brown Japan, and one-half the quantity which is used 
of the latter will suffice to make the paint work nicely and to dry well. 
Too much Japan Gold-size added to the paint will make it saponaceous, 
or anti-drying. It is not a sizing for gold, and should never be used 
for that purpose. To make Gilding-size, take equal parts of Crown 
Coach Japan and Finishing Varnish, or one part Japan Gold-size and 
two parts P. W. F. 

Wednesday, 27. 

^ ' One of the reasons why I have continued to improve may be 
reduced to a principle of honesty : I have endeavored to do my best 
if great or vulgar, good subjects or bad." 

' ' Those who are determined to excel must go to their work whether 
willing or unwilling, morjiing, noon and night, and they will find it 



so AUGUST, 1879. 

to be no play, but on the contrary very hard work." — Sir Joshua 
Reynolds. 

Thursday, 28. 

JAPAN BROWN. — A beautiful color, known by the above title 
from the fact that Black Japan forms the principal ingredient, is used 
by carriage-painters, not only on account of its beauty, but because it 
is easily mixed and is a durable color. Various shades, from light to 
dark, may be made by simply changing the proportions of the two 
ingredients, namely, Valentine's Black Japan and red, either vermilion 
or Indian red. This paint, when properly mixed, is similar to color- 
and-varnish, and should be applied in a similar manner, i. e., with 
varnish-brushes. It is excellent in repainting a carriage, in which 
case rub down the old varnish to remove gloss, and apply the Japan- 
brown directly to the work, two coats of which will generally make a 
very fair job. 

Friday, 29. 

ROUGHSTUFF.—Yalentine's Ground Roughstuff may be thinned 
with turpentine if found too thick for use when taken from the 
original package. But this thinning must be done with judgment. 
We don't w^ant to kill or injure the binding and elastic qualities of the 
mixture — we simply supply a little turpentine in the place of that 
which has evaporated. A small quantity of raw oil should be added 
when the roughstuff is intended for the first coat over P. W. F. (a 
tablespoonful to a pint of the roughstuff will be sufficient.) 

Saturday, 30. 

The following definitions of rough-stuff are not to be found in any 
varnish-dealer's catalogue : 

1. ^'A coat of roughstuff — A chinchilla ulster." — The Hub. 

2. '' Oh, no ! Tar and feathers." — Lynch County Gazette. 

3. ''Oh, pshaw! Roughstuff? A dose of castor oil." — Medical 
Times. 

4. "Roughstuff? One of Dennis Kearney's speeches." — Greenback 
Bugle. 

5. ' ' Roughstuff ? Thyme and bread is a darned roughstuff for a 
poor turkey." — Thanksgiving Times. 



1879 



SEPT. 



1879 



''You may break, ^'^ou may shatter the coach if you will, 
But the paint we put it on will stick to it still." 



Sun. 


Mon. 


Tue. 


Wed. 


Thu. 


Fri. 


Sat. 


7 
14 
21 
28 


1 

8 
15 
22 
29 


2 

9 

16 

23 

30 


3 

10 
17 
24 


4 
11 
18 
25 


5 
12 
19 
26 


6 
13 
20 

27 



Monday, I. 

TRUE SENTIMENTS. 



Let no mean jealousies pervert your mind, 
A blemish in another's fame to find ; 
Be grateful for the gifts that you possess, 
Nor deem a rival's merits make yours less. 



Tuesday, 2. 

The warm days are now followed by cold nights, and it is quite 
important that the heating arrangements of the varnish-room be 
attended to, and when varnished work is left to dry over night the 
temperature of the room be maintained at 70 or 75 degrees Fah. A 
change to a lower degree during the night would possibly cause 
'Spitting," "going silky" or "sandy," and "crawHng" of the var- 
nish-coat. 



32 SEPTEMBER, 1879. 

Wednesday, 3. 

WEIGHT OF LIQUIDS.— The following list shows the approximate 
weights of the different liquids used in coach-painting : 

Lbs. Ozs. 
1 pint of turpentine, ....... 10 

1 pint of linseed oil, ........ 1 

1 pint of varnish, ........ 1 

1 pint of Japan, ......... 1 2 

1 pint of roughstuff, ....... 2 

1 pint of mixed black, ........ 1 5 

1 pint of lead-paint, 2 12 

Thursday, 4. 

RUBBING-COATS. — It is generally best to get a body or gear into 
color- and- varnish before applying clear rubbing- varnish, and this is 
done to preserve the color as well as to guard against pitting, crawl- 
ing, etc., which is liable to occur where the clear varnish is laid over 
dead or "flat" color. This rule is not an arbitrary one, for many a 
good job is done with clear varnish, and this is especially the case 
where none but oily color (which would cause pitting of the varnish) 
is at hand for mixing the color-and- varnish. 

Friday, 5. 

A TRULY economical person will be as careful of his time as of his 
money. It is with the one as with the other — a few minutes here 
and a half hour there wasted on trifles, just as a few cents or dimes 
per day spent foolishly, will, in a short time, make a great loss, while 
on the other hand these fractions, whether of time or money, if econo- 
mized, will, after a while, amount to a large capital. 

Saturday, 6. 

DARK RICH BROWN.— Take Indian red, five parts, and Prussian 
blue, one part ; grind and mix in Crown Coach Japan and turpentine ; 
add a very little oil. The color may be made light or dark, as desired, 
by simply altermg the proportions. Vermilion and ivory black will 
make a very good brown, but we believe that all red and black browns 



SEPTEMBER, 1879. 



are improved or softened in tone by the addition of yellow. Umber- 
brown, Yandyke-brown, sienna-brown, etc., are all pigments of the 
brown order, but require the addition of other pigments to hghten, 
darken, or to give them richness ; as for example, umber-brown, 
without the addition of a drop or two of red, is a cold, raw color, 
unless placed in juxtaposition to the required reddish tint. 

Monday, 8, 
PAINTINGS SLEI&HS. 

As soon as the woodwork is finished, give the outside of the sleigh 
a coat of Permanent Wood Filling and wipe off with rags, in the same 
manner as directed for carriage bodies. The inside, which is gen- 
erally covered with canvas, should receive a coating of slush. There 
is in most shops a good supply of slush paint — the emptyings of cups 
and the settlings of varnish-cans. However, if you have none at 
hand, take any cheap pigment, such as mineral paint, Venetian red 
yellow ochre, etc., and mix with oil and Japan. 

Tuesday, 9. 

The body of the sleigh requires roughstuff , and to-day, the P. W. F. 
being dry, apply an even coat of Valentine's Ground Eoughstuff, bear- 
ing in mind that the better you keep the surface — that is, free from 
brush-marks, runs and dirt — the less labor you will have in all sub- 
sequent work. The running part may be puttied over the worst 
places, but do not attempt to thoroughly putty the holes, for the 
jarring given the wood by the smith will loosen the putty and make 
you double labor ; simply glaze over the most open-grained places. 

Wednesday, 10. 

The second coat of roughstufP may be applied to the body to-day. 
Before laying it on, however, see that all nail and brad-holes are filled 
with putty. Late in the afternoon, if the job is a hurried one, the 
smith may take it to put on the irons. It is always best to have the 
ironing done while the job is in roughstuff, for not only does it give 
time for drying, but any injury the surface may receive while in the 
smith-shop may be easily repaired. 



24 SEPTEMBER, 1879. 



Thursday, II. 

In painting sleighs there is a much larger field for display than on 
carriages. They require to be painted with more showy colors and 
with more ornamentation, and the painter is called upon to choose 
from the variety of colors those suitable for this class of work, and to 
harmonize them, which is often a very trying task. In the vicinity of 
New York City and east of that place, the colors used on sleighs are 
generally dark, and but little ornamentation or striping is added ; 
while in the North and West a more fanciful style is adopted. In our 
opinion the most cheerful colors should be chosen for sleighs, the dark 
shades for heavy work and the light ones for light work. A light 
cutter would look well with the panels bright vermilion, the armpiece 
and mouldings medium shade dark green, panels striped with double 
fine line of light green, and the armpiece with quarter-inch gold stripe 
edged with vermilion, and distanced with fine lines of canary yellow 
or a cream color. A monogram or ornament in center of dash panel 
inside, or on center of back panel. Full directions for painting a 
white sleigh will be found on another page. 

Friday, 12. 

The sleigh having returned from the smith-shop, look it over carefully 
and repair surface if needed. Then clean off running part with sand- 
paper and file, and give the wood and iron a coat of P. W. F, If the 
wings are to be covered with leather or canvas, coat the iron with P. 
W. F. to prevent rust. 

Saturday, 13. 

Put in to-day in rubbing the sleigh-body out of roughstuff and in 
smoothing the running part with sandpaper and putty, and cleaning 
the whole job for color. Lay all c lor on with a camel's-hair brush, 
to ensu]-e smoothness, and besides this kind of brush is economical, 
for it saves color by laying it thinner. The color should be mixed to 
dry with an egg-shell gloss, not too dead nor too glossy. 

Monday, 15. 

Two coats of color may be necessary, and if so, the second coat may 
be put on this morning ; if not, apply a coat of color-and- varnish to 



SEPTEMBER, 1879. 35 

all parts. If it is necessary to apply the second coat of color, the 
color-and- varnish may be put on late in the afternoon. Mix the color 
in Valentine's Elastic Leveling Varnish for body, and in Quick Level- 
ing Varnish for the running part. Apply ''full," and as clean as if 
it was for the finish. 

Tuesday, 16. 

There is oftentimes trouble with striping where gold-bronze is sub- 
stituted for gold-leaf, but the remedy for the trouble lies in the hands 
of the painter. If the bronze is of poor quality, it will be found 
coarse and will not adhere well to the size. If put on to size that is 
not sufficiently ''tacky," it will be drowned and turn green, whether 
of good or bad quality. If the size be too dry the bronze will not 
adhere to it. The best bronze should therefore be purchased in all 
cases, and the size carefully watched to see when the "tack" is just 
right. 

Wednesday, 17. 

A light rub with pumice-stone and water will prepare the job for 
the striper and ornamenter. If gold is to be put on, it will be neces- 
sary to prepare the surface so that the leaf or bronze will adhere to no 
part but that covered by size, and to do this we pounce the parts to be 
gilded with a pounce-bag, made by tying some whiting in muslin to 
form a bag. A thin film of whiting is thus put on, and the applica- 
tion of the gilding-size next follows. 

Thursday, 18. 

The striping, etc., being finished, wash the job off with clean water, 
chamois dry, and run it into the varnish-room, where it may receive 
a good coat of Quick Leveling or Elastic Leveling varnish as a rub- 
bing-coat over the striping ; for if but one coat of finishing varnish is 
put on we fear it would not make as good a job as we desire. 

Friday, 19. 

Decalcomanie pictures, or "transfers," are a ready means of orna- 
menting, and these are used by many sleigh-builders in the country. 



26 SEPTEMBER, 1879. 

But the scroll patterns designed for such work, and often illustrated 
in The Hub, if well executed by hand, give better satisfaction to the 
customer, as well as value to the work, and show that care was ex- 
pended in the production of the job ; whereas with the transfers a 
cheap appearance is given. 

Saturday, 20. 

The trimmer may now call for the job to put in linings, etc., and as 
it is quite dry we send it off to be trimmed, which will take a day, 
perhaps. All this time the rubbing-coat is hardening, and when we 
next apply the rub-rag we will find that a smooth surface is easily 
obtained. A woolen rag is best for use as a rub-rag, although some 
prefer felt. The main thing is to have your rubbing-coats so clean 
and well laid that but little rubbing is necessary. There is no earthly 
use of jnitting on vai-nish and then rubbing it half off. 

Monday, 22. 

COLOR FOB SLEIGHS.— The most fashionable colors used 
in the Eastern States are : Black striped with gold ; black body striped 
with light cream color, with lake or carmine runners ; carmine striped 
with gold and black ; pea-green striped with gold and black ; or lake 
striped with gold and vermilion, in connection with black or ver- 
milion runners. A pure white sleigh, or white striped with vermilion, 
is sometimes called for ; while some customers prefer the entire sleigh 
in black without striping. Any colors that harmonize together can 
be used on sleigh work without infringing on good taste. 

Tuesday, 23. 

To-day is the finishing day of the sleigh. Being nicely rubbed and 
washed, flow on every part a coat of Valentine's Medium Drying Body 
Yarnish. and the job is done. 

Wednesday, 24. 

Work is, as a rule, at the foundation of all true success. Brilliant 
parts, fine education, powerful friends, are not to be despised, but 
they cannot supply the place of personal toil and patient pains-taking 



SEPTEMBER, 1879. 37 

industry. President Lincoln literally worked himself up from a com- 
mon laborer to the highest position in the gift of the Eepublic. Henry 
Wilson, at twenty-one, carried his wardrobe and his library on his 
back whithersoever he went in pursuit of work. Commodore Van- 
derbilt laid the foundation of his vast fortune in the savings and 
habits of industry acquired in his young days in rowing a ferry-boat. 
Charles Dickens owed his success not more to his genius than to hard^ 
systematic labor. '^ Industry is the sheet-anchor of success." 



Thursday, 25. 

TO MIX TINTS.— Tints are colors added to white, and to mix them 
the white-lead should first be thinned to a cream-like consistency with 
turpentine, and the staining ingredient — that is, any desired color — 
should be mixed in a similar manner in a separate vessel. Then add 
the stain little by little to the white until the tint required is obtained. 
It must be remembered that some pigments are very strong, and the 
least drop will change the tint, while other pigments, being weak, will 
occasion the use of quite a large percentage. Experience will prove 
the best teacher in this matter. 



Friday, 26. 

The Technologist says that the so-called lead-paralysis, common 
among painters in the form of a loss of motion of the wrist- joints, is 
chiefly produced by the habit of washing the hands in turpentine. It 
is probable that it is not the turpentine alone which produces this fatal 
result, but chiefly the particles of lead or zinc-paint on the hands, 
which, by the turpentine, are brought in a condition to penetrate the 
skin more readily and to be absorbed. Therefore, painters should 
avoid, as much as possible, the use of turpentine for washing the 
hands, and the use of white lead in their work. 



Saturday, 27. 

ARTIFICIAL CORAL.— Melt together yellow resin, four parts; 
vermilion, one part. This gives a very pretty effect to glass, twigs, 
raisin-stems, cinders, stones, etc., dipped into the mixture and dried. 



38 SEPTEMBER, 1879. 

Monday, 29. 

There are times when a heaviness comes over the heart, and we 
feel as if there was no hope. Who has not felt it ? For this there is 
no cure but work. Plunge into it ; put all your energies into motion ; 
rouse up the inner man. Act, and this heaviness shall disappear as 
mist before the morning sun. Work, then, and faint not ; for therein 
is the well-spring of human hope and human happiness. — Cassius M. 
Clay. 

Tuesday, 30. 

PAINTING OLD WORK.— To repaint a badly-chipped gear, first 
scrape off all the old paint, and this may be easily done with a well- 
ground flat file. Take a twelve or fourteen-inch flat file that has been 
"used up" in the smith-shop, and grind the two sides and the edges 
sufficient to make four sharp, square corners, and you will have an 
excellent scraping tool. After scraping, finish well with coarse sand- 
paper, dust off, and apply a coat of P. W. F. ; wipe off well with clean 
rags, and give forty-eight hours for drying. Then proceed as you 
would with the painting. Providing the paint is not in bad condition 
all over the gear, those parts which are chipped the most may be 
scraped, and the other parts simply sandpapered over. The coating 
of P. W. F. over all w^U furnish a good foundation for subsequent 
painting. 



GENERAL SYNOPSIS OF THE AMERICAN METHOD 

FOR SLEIGHS, 

1st day. Coat P. W. F. all over. . give 24 hours, if well wiped. 

2d 

4th 

5th 

6th 

6th 

7th 

8th 

9th 



1st coat roughstuff, .... give 48 hours. 

2d '' '' ordinary, . . . '^ 24 " 

Rub body, sandpaper runners, and putty same. 

Color all over, ..... give 16 hours. 

2d coat of color all over, . . . " 18 '' 

Color and varnish all over, . . . '' 24 " 

Stripe and ornament. 

Rubbing varnish all over, . . . " 24 " 



10th " Finish with Medium Drying Varnish. 



1879 OCTOBER. 1879 



Buy the best that you can buy, 
Mix well and give time to dry." 



Sun. 


Mon. 


Tue. 


Wed. 


Thu. 


Fri. 


Sat. 


- - 


- - 


^ ^ 


1 


2 


3 


4 


5 


6 


7 


8 


9 


10 


11 


12 


13 


14 


15 


16 


17 


18 


19 


20 


21 


22 


23 


24 


25 


26 


27 


28 


29 


30 


31 


- - 



Wednesday, I. 



BE CAREFUL WHAT VOU SAV. 

In spsaking of a person's faults, 

Pray don't forget your own ; 
Remember, those with homes of glass 

Should seldom throw a stone : 
K we have nothing else to do 

Than talk of those who sin, 
'Tis better to commence at home, 

And from that point begin. 



Thursday, 2. 



This month the painter will, no doubt, be annoyed with the deviltry 
known as *' going sandy," "seedy," and '^specky," in the varnish- 
room. This is a trouble brought about by the varnish being chilled^ 
and may be prevented by keeping the cans of varnish in a warm 



30 OCTOBER, 1879. 

place at all times ; and by thoroughly warming the varnish that has 
been chilled, it may return to its proper condition and give good re- 
sults when spread upon the work. Varnish is frequently chilled while 
in transit from the manufactory to the paint-shop, but most frequently 
by the practice of setting the varnish-cans upon the floor (the coldest 
part of the shop). 

Friday, 3. 

COLOR-AND-VARNISH.— When about to make color-and- varnish, 
the painter should be careful not to use oily color, for the varnish will 
not readily assimilate with oil, and the consequence is that the devil- 
tries known as silking, pitting and crawling will appear in the coating 
before it becomes dry. Color-and- varnish should be made by mixing 
quick color with the varnish, or better still, to mix the dry pigment 
with the varnish, and grind it through the mill. Where several pig- 
ments are employed to form a color this cannot be done so well, and in 
that case use quick, or japan color, oil color never. 

Saturday, 4. 

It is invariably the case that people who have had a small estate left 
them, which they know not the getting of, think ' ' It is day, and will 
never be night ; " that a little to be spent out of so much, is not worth 
minding. A child and fool, as Poor Eichard says, imagine twenty 
shillings and twenty years can never be spent ; but always be taking 
out of the meal-tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom ; 
then when the well is dry, they know the v/orth of water. 

Monday, 6. 

GILDING SIZE. — Take Valentine's finishing varnish and add an 
equal portion of Crown Coach Japan, or a little less Japan Gold Size, 
whichever is at hand ; or take equal parts Permanent Wood Filling 
(light shade) and C. C. Japan ; mix with either of the above a little 
chrome yellow to give the requisite thickness on body, and to aid in 
drawing straight stripes. Now, being all prepared, draw the stripes 
directly upon the prepared surface the same as if it were paint that 
was in use instead of gilding-size. When the stripes have been on, 
say one hour, feel with the finger if the size is '' tacky ; " if not wait 



OCTOBER, 1879. 31 

a while until it is so ; then lift one of the pa^Der-leaves, with the gold 
adhering, and lay it, with the gold down, upon the size ; rub over the 
whole gently with the finger and lift the paper, when it will be found 
that the gold leaf is firmly affixed to the stripe. Proceed in the same 
manner until all the size is covered with gold ; after which give time 
for drying, and wash off with clean water. 

Tuesday, 7. 

Once begun a thing is alm.ost half -finished. 

He who thinks for himself, and imitates rarely, is a free man. 

Old and young men should pattern after pianos — be square, upright 
and grand. 

Write me down az one who fears God, luvs to ketch trout, pla 
whist, and ride a three minnitt gait. 

Wednesday, 8. 

HOW TO KEEP PAINT BEUSHES.~All brushes used for painting 
should be suspended in water to prevent the paint from drying in the 
hair or bristles. This is best done by making a hole in the handle, 
through which to run a wire, then placing the brush and wire in posi- 
tion, allowing the ends of the wire to rest on the edge of the vessel, 
and being careful to have just water enough to reach up to the bind- 
ing ; for if it be allowed to cover it there is a liability of injuring the 
brush by swelling the handle and bursting the cord. Turpentine may 
be a very good liquid in which to suspend soft-hair pencils, temporarily, 
but it soon rots the hair and ruins the brush. Yarnish-brushes should be 
suspended in varnish — nothing else. 

Thursday, 9. 

How TO GET Along in the World. — If you have a place of business, 
be found there when w^anted. No man can get rich by sitting around 
stores and saloons. 

Never fool in business matters. 

Have order, system, regularity, and also promptness. 

Do not meddle with business you know nothing about. 

Do not kick every one in your path. 



33 OCTOBER, 1879. 

More miles can be made in one day by going steadily than by stop- 
ping. 

Pay as you go. 

A man of honor respects his word as he does his bond. 

Help others when you can, but never give what you cannot afford 
because it is fashionable. 

Learn to say No. No necessity of snapping it out dog-fashion, but 
say it firmly and respectfully. 

Use your own brains rather than those of others. 

Learn to think and act for yourself. 

Keep ahead rather than behind the times. 



Friday, 10. 

OILING WORK. — We would say that the custom of rubbing jobs 
with oil while in the repository is not common, though we understand 
that it has been tried by a number of carriage-builders in various 
parts of the country. Pure olive oil, if rubbed over the varnish sur- 
face of a carriage, when considerably deadened by use or by storage 
in an ill- ventilated repository, w^ould brighten it to some extent ; but, 
on the contrai^, if applied to jobs newly varnished, it would deaden 
their lustre. The only way to bring back the lustre to new work is to 
wash it often with cold water, and each washing will tend to harden 
and improve the varnish. 



Saturday, II. 

*• Captain," said a son of Erin, as a ship was nearing the coast in 
inclement weather, '' have ye a almenik on board ? " '^ No, I haven't." 
'' Then, be jabers, we shall have to take the weather as it comes." 

''Pay me that six-and-eight-pence you owe me, Mr. Malrooney," 
said a ^allae-e attorney. " For what ?" " For the opinion you had of 
me." " Faith, I never had any opinion of you in all my life." 

He wouldn't swear to it. — A witness, on entering the box, had a 
testament presented to hun, but he declined to be sworn. Being asked 
his reasons for refusing, he naively replied : '^ I'll tell a lie w' ony mon 
i' England, but I'll not swear to it." 



OCTOBER, 1879. 33 

Monday, 13. 

CHAMOIS-SKIN.— The skin used by the painter for drying off 
water, and called a '^shammy," derives its name from the chamois, 
an animal of the antelope kind, whose hide was, and may occasionally 
be still in use ; but we are seldom fortunate enough to secure a real 
chamois-skin, those sold for such being generally only alum-dressed 
sheep-skins. The best are thin, though compact and soft, and gener- 
ally a lighter color than the poorer qualities. Care should be taken to 
keep them free from dirt, grease, soap, etc., which would tend to 
injure the work. Never use a chamois for drying the hands and face 
when washing. 

Tuesday, 14- 

JuDGiNG BY Faces. — A man's character is stamped upon his face by 
the time that he is thirty. I had rather put my trust in any human 
being's countenance than his words. The lips may lie, the face can 
not. To be sure, '' a man may smile and smile and be a villain ; " but 
what a smile it is — a false widening of the mouth and increasing of 
the cheeks, an unpleasant grimace that makes the observer shudder. 
*' Eascal " is legibly written all over it. 

Wednesday, 15. 

PERMANENT WOOD FILLING makes an excellent oil finish on 
most woods. But rosewood, which is excessively oily, it will not 
penetrate, and therefore shellac is best. Upon Georgia pine care must 
be taken to wipe it well with rags, that the close, sappj^ j^aces be not 
overcharged with it. 

Thursday, 16. 

I don't kno whitch feels the biggest, the nuly elekted sheriff ov one 
ov the rural countys, or the man who drives four-in-hand for the fust 
time. 

ExNY man who kan swop horses, or ketch fish, and not lie about it, 
is just about az pious az men ever get to be in this world. 

The shortest way to a woman's harte iz to praze her baby and her 
bonnet ; and to a man's harte, to praze his watch and his horse and 
buggy. 

It takes a live man to do bizziness now-a-days. I don't care if you 
hav got a copy ov the Bible to sell, you hav got to talk it up strong. 



34 OCTOBER, 1879. 

Friday, 17. 

HOW TO DEVISE A NEW COLOR,— When the painter goes to 
the stone to mix a new color, he will find it a good plan — providing he 
does not have before him a sample of the desired color — to first gaze 
a little while into vacancy, as it is called — that is, to look intently at 
a blank wall without directing the mind at the thing gazed upon, and 
at the same time to conjure up in his " mind's eye " the color he wishes 
to produce. This proceeding may appear a waste of time to some, 
but those who have practiced it will understand its utility in bringing 
the eye to a proper condition to judge correctly concerning any com- 
bination of pigments which at the time is under preparation. 

The painter sees in his mind's eye, for example, a brilliant orange 
color, and he then turns out yellow and red, and works them together 
until the eye is satisfied. A lighter or darker tint than the one first 
imagined can then be quickly discovered, and the proportions altered 
until the desired hue is obtained. 

This method of arriving at conclusions as regards color was first 
taught us by our ''old boss" many years ago, while we were yet in 
our teens, and we cheerfully endorse the method as one which has 
served us well in the years gone by. Try it, reader, and write us 
your opinion. 

Saturday, 18. 

I don't care if yu have got a hed full ov branes, and a harte full ov 
honesty, if yu kant git yure note diskounted for 60 days, yu ain't 
mutch ov a phellow for theze times. 

After a day's weary march Mohammed was camping with his fol- 
lowers. One said, ''I will loose m.y camel and commit it to God." 
Mohammed said, " Friend, tie thy camel, and commit it to God." 

When a poor little blind boy was asked what forgiveness is, he 
paused a moment, and then, taking his pen, wrote : '' It is the odor 
which the trampled flower gives out to bless the foot which crushed it." 

Monday, 20. 

RUBBING. — In rubbing the body be careful that the pumice-stone 
does not dry on the surface. Keep it well wet, until washed from the 
job. After the first rubbing and washing, rub it again lightly with 
pulverized rotten-stone and water ; then wash clean, using a water- 



OCTOBER, 1879. 35 



tool (a painter's sash-tool) to remove dirt from corners of moldings, etc. ; 
then, having a good chamois-skin (not a common sheep-skin), dry the 
work thoroughly, and there will be no " motes " to remove. When 
ready to apply the varnish, put a little varnish in the hollow of the 
hand and gently moisten the ends of the bristles of the duster ; this 
attracts any fine lint that may be on the panel, and a very light dust- 
ing over will give you as clean a job as you could have. Eubbing the 
hand over a panel is apt to cause trouble from the perspiration left 
upon it. The finishing strokes in varnishing should be up and down, 
excepting on narrow and long horizontal parts. And all varnish 
should be left to flow before it begins to set, 

Tuesday, 21. 

Some people have expressed themselves as discouraged in their ex- 
pectation of finding any art in America, and have ' ' long ceased to 
hope ! " Let us remember that art, like jelly, has always been more 
easily recognized when cold. It has always existed, in all nations, and 
the tradition will probably not die here. Art is not always recognized 
in the present. In fact, most people prefer it canned ! 

Wednesday, 22. 

JAPAN GOLD SIZE. — The name Japan Gold Size has ever been 
a source of misunderstanding to painters, and we are not surprised at 
your question. It is not adapted for use as a gilding size, but it forms 
an important mgredient in making gilding size, as will be seen by the 
following formula : Take of Permanent Wood Filling one part, Japan 
Gold Size one part, mix well and apply ; this size, if laid on thin, will 
be ready for gilding in about twelve hours. The length of time be- 
tween laying on the size and the application of the gold should be 
regulated by the proportion of the ingredients used ; the more P. W. 
F., the longer the time required for drying; the more Japan Gold 
Size, the shorter the time ; the latter alone does not possess binding or 
" sticking-' properties sufficient to hold or fasten the gold leaf. Any 
high grade finishing varnish, tempered with Japan Gold Size as a dryer, 
will make a good gilding size. 

Thursday, 23. 

A FINE imitation of ebony, and one that is really better for service 
than the wood itself, is made from pear, beech, maple, or any close- 



36 OCTOBER, 1879. 

grained wood. Boil the chips of logwood in an iron vessel, and satu- 
rate the wood to be dyed several times until the liquid penetrates the 
grain ; then take iron fillings, or rusty iron, and pour vinegar over it. 
Let it remain until done effervescing, and then apply it to the wood 
while wet with the logwood juice. This will make a fine ebony black, 
and will admit of sandpapering and polishing equal to the natural 
wood. 

Friday, 24. 

p. W. F. — Permanent Wood Filling will be found excellent in clos- 
ing up the porosity of brick, and thereby preventing the absorp- 
tion of the oil from the paint put on over it, and you will find that one 
good coat of paint will be quite sufficient to give a finish, when applied 
over the P. W. F., where two coats are generally necessary. It is 
calculated, that one gallon of P. W. F. will cover eight hundred square 
feet of surface on wood, but we think that the brick- work will drink 
up a little more, and we might set it down as six hundred square feet 
for a gallon. By the use of P. W. F. on brown stone fronts, the color 
of the stone will be improved, and as it is impossible for dampness to 
penetrate through it, the serious trouble of frost-cracks, and chipping 
of the stone will be wholly avoided. 

Saturday, 25. 

We are apt to put off the great work until a time of leisure ; but, 
believe me, no masterpiece of human industry or ingenuity was ever 
so accomplished. The vacation comes ; we loll on the bridge, whistle, 
or drop pebbles into the running water, but the very thought of a great 
project becomes wearisome. — Geo. Houghton. 

Monday, 27. 

AMERICAN VERMILION is inferior, as a general thing, to the 
English, but one brand, called California vermilion, is a beaut ful color, 
and not so hable to darken as other American vermilion. The ordi- 
nary American vermilion is used extensively on trucks and farm 
wagons, and for such work it answers the purpose very well, but for 
fine work we prefer the English. 

Tuesday, 28. 

It is not work that kills men ; it is worry. Work is healthy. You 
can hardly put more work upon a man than he can bear. Worry 



OCTOBER, 1879. 37 

is rust upon the blade. It is not the resolution that destroys the ma- 
chinery, but the friction. 

Wednesday, 29. 

ULTRAMARINE. — When this pigment is used as a glazing over a 
blue ground, it should be ground in hard-drying body varnish, and 
thinned with very little turpentine when about to be applied. When 
it is to be used as a color — without glazing, save as color-and- varnish — 
mix with Japan Gold Size and turpentine to grind, then add a few 
drops of oil — testing it upon the thumb-nail until it dries with an egg- 
shell gloss — to make it elastic and durable. 

Thursday, 30. 

You may talk as much as you please about man being able to accom- 
plish anj^thing he undertakes if he sets about it in earnest — we demur. 
When it comes to scratching the back dead square between the shoul- 
ders, a fat man has to let out the job. He may pierce the ocean wave 
with the lightning's flash, make fraud an honored profession, get up a 
telephone that will carry Russian names without bending the wire, but 
he comes to an impassable stone fence sometimes. 

Friday, 31. 

BADLY-CHIPPED PAINT.— To repaint a badly-chipped gear, first 
scrape off all the old paint, and this may be easily done with a well- 
ground flat file. Take a twelve or fourteen inch flat file that has been 
'' used up " in the smith-shop, and grind the sides and edges sufficient 
to make four sharp, square corners, and you will have an excellent 
scraping tool. After scraping, finish with coarse sandpaper (No. 3^), 
dust off and apply a coat of P. W. F., wipe off well, and then proceed 
in the usual manner of painting by the American Method. If the paint 
is not badly chipped (simply cracked), sandpaper down well to remove 
as much of the outside shell of varnish as possible, then apply P. W. F. , 
and go on as if dealing with a new gear. 

Have you not heard of the man who made two holes in his fence for 
his cats to crawl through — one large, for grown cats, and one small, 
for kittens ? If so, you will readily preceive the similarity between 
that man and the painter who puts one or more coats of lead-paint 
over a priming of P. W. F. 



1879 



NOV. 



1879 



He who paints to please his master, 
Musi paint, not only well, but faster. 



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Saturday, I. 

OUR FAULTS. 

We have no right to judge a man 

Until he's fairly tried ; 
Should we not like his company, 

We know the world is wide. 
Some may have faults — and who has not? 

The old as well as young ; 
Perhaps we may, for aught we know, 

Have fifty to their one. 



Monday, 3. 

The nights being cold at this time, and heavy dews or frosts of 
frequent occurrence in some sections, it will be necessary to run all 
work from the drying-sheds into the shop at night, otherwise the outer 
shell or coating of paint will be chilled hard, and being apparently dry 
the painter may be led into the error of applying the next coat too 
soon. 



40 NOVEMBER, 1879. 

Tuesday, 4-. 

SWEATING OF VARNISH.— Yarnish will '' sweat," that is, have a 
glossy appearance after it has been rubbed and allowed to stand a while, 
if the coat has been applied too heavj^, and has not dried through. 
If too much rubbing is done, the rubbing coat is too often applied 
carelessly, with the thought that all defects, such as specks and brush- 
marks, will be rubbed out, but this necessitates so long a rubbing that 
the "life" of the varnish is rubbed out, and sweating follows as a 
natural consequence. However, sweating is of no consequence in the 
hands of an experienced workman, for he will rub the job and put the 
varnish on before it has time to sweat. 

Wednesday, 5- 

Lord Chesterfield was dining at an inn where the plates wxre dirty. 
Lord C, complaining, w^as informed by the w^ alter that "everyone 
must eat a peck of dirt before he dies." " That may be true," said 
Chesterfield, " but no one is obliged to eat it all at one meal." 

Thursday, 6. 

CLEANING VARNISH BRUSHES.— It is true that turpentine is 
bad for a brush, and to clean a good brush it should never be slopped 
into a cup of turpentine. Ordinarily it can best be cleaned by work- 
ing the dust out on some unimportant panel. If the brush has become 
dirty by an unlucky fall to the floor, hold it at an angle towards the 
floor, in such a manner that when the turpentine is poured upon it, the 
spirits will not run up into the hilt of the brush, but will flow off, car- 
rying with it the greater part of the dirt. After rinsing it in this 
manner, strike the tin binding several sharp raps upon some hard sub- 
stance, when the recoil or spring of the hair will cleanse the brush of 
the turpentine. Einse well in rubbing varnish and work it out nicely 
on an old panel. 

Friday, 7. 

HOT WATER. — It is the habit of some painters, as well as stable- 
men, to use hot water for washing a job, during cold weather ; and 
we have known some to use it even in rubbing varnish or roughstuff ; 
and we take this opportunity to warn all such against such a proceed- 
ing. Hot water not only softens the surface of paint or varnish, but 



NOVEMBER, 1879. 41 

penetrates deeply into a roughstuff surface, causing trouble in subse- 
quent coats, or delay by its slow evaporation. 

Water from which the chill is removed only, is the requirement. 
Hot water, never ! 

Saturday, 8. 

MIXING VARNISHES. — Valentine's varnishes may be mixed to- 
gether to suit the requirements of certain cases without detriment, as 
for example : If you are using Elastic Gear varnish, and the job is a 
hurried one, and the day damp or rainy, add a little Quick Levehng 
Varnish and stir well together, this will cause it to dry well. For 
Wearing Body add a little Hard Drying Varnish. This feature of mix- 
ing this brand of varnishes is a good one, and often of service to the 
painter, but he must use judgment, for the responsibility all rests with 
him, and his care must be not to add too much of the lower grade var- 
nish, and thereby injure the durability of the work. A little will do 
no harm. 

Monday, 10- 

Don't stand sighing, wishing and waiting, but go to work with an 
energy and perseverance that will set every object in the way of suc- 
cess flying like leaves before a whirlwind. A milk-and-water way of 
doing business leaves a man in the lurch every time. He may have 
ambition enough to wish himself on the topmost round of the ladder of 
success, but if he has not got the go-aheaditiveness to pull himself up 
there, he will inevitably remain at the bottom, or at best, on the very 
low rounds. 

Tuesday, II. 

VARNISH BRUSHES.— The flat bristle brush if well made, and of 
the proper shape, size and quahty of stock is best for general varnishing 
on bodies — and many prefer them also on gears. A set of the New- York 
Standard varnish brushes, made by Miles Bros., of Fulton-st., from 
one-half an inch to three inches in width, will be found excellent tools: 
the cost of these are $3.50 per set. Fitch-hair brushes are used to 
some extent, but the badger-hair brush is its superior in every respect. 

Wednesday, 12. 

VARNISHING GOLD BRONZE.— It may have been noticed by the 
painter that English varnishes invariably cause a speedy darkening or 
greening of the metal, owing no doubt to an acid present in the varnish 



43 NOVEMBER, 1879. 

which draws the verdigris to the surface, while this is not the case 
with American varnishes ; and we advise the use of a rubbing coat 
of American varnish where Enghsh varnish must be used over gold. 
Valentine's Finishing Varnishes do not affect the color of gold and may- 
be used with perfect safety. 

Thursday, 13. 

Men should not think too much of themselves, and yet a man should 
be careful not to forget himself. — Prentice. 

The more enlarged is our mind, the more we discover in men of 
originality. Your commonplace people see no difference between one 
and another. — Pascal. 

A Chinese lawyer has been admitted to the London bar. He will, 
no doubt, be able to Chin-esely enough, when the proper time comes. 

Friday, 14. 

FINISHING VABNISH.— The troubles called '^ crawling," ^'run- 
ning," and working " tough " in a coat of finishing varnish are caused 
frequently by 

1. Cold weather, cold room, cold varnish, or cold panels. 

2. Greasy or dirty sponges or chamois. 

3. A sweated under-coat. 

4. Perspiration from the hands after the rubbing is done. 

5. Brushes kept suspended in oil or turpentine. 

6. A surface of English finishing varnish rubbed for another coat. 

Saturday, 15. 

There are some things for doing which one will not repent, viz. : 

For hearing before judging ; 

For thinking before speaking ; 

For holding an angry tongue ; 

For stopping the ear to tale-bearers ; 

For disbelieving most floating gossip ; 

For refusing to kick a fallen man ; 

For being kind to the distressed ; 

For being patient toward everybody ; 

For doing good as he has opportunity ; 

For asking pardon for wrongs and mistakes ; 

For speaking evil of no one ; 

For being pohte to all. 



NOVEMBER, 1879. 43 

Monday, 17. 

KEEPING VARNISH BRUSHES.— Keep your varnish brushes sus- 
pended in the same kind of varnish you intend to use them in, and 
never in oil or turpentine. The least admixture of oil to a high-grade 
— that is, best quality — varnish will be apt to cause trouble, and by 
keeping your brushes in varnish you will find them ever ready for 
use. 

Tuesday, 18. 

VARNISHING IN SUMMER.— KsiYing brought the work up to the 
leveling varnish coats and produced a smooth, even surface for the 
application of the finishing varnish, the surface must be rubbed with 
fine pumice-stone and water, well washed with cold water, and the 
varnish applied as promptly as possible, otherwise the surface is liable 
to '^ sw^eat " and give trouble. The varnish-room should be well venti- 
lated, either by ventilators in the windows or by a pipe running through 
the ceiling and roof, or the amount of oxygen in the room will be in- 
sufficient to harden the varnish. 

Wednesday, 19. 

Mark Twain says ' ' he has a higher standard of principle than 
George Washington. Washington couldn't tell a lie. He can, but he 
won't." 

A MAN looking at the picture of a pig, inquired : '' Who is that pig- 
ment for ?" 

Thursday, 20. 

RUBBING-CLOTHS. — In rubbing bodies wdth pulverized pumice- 
stone, some prefer a piece of thick felt, others a piece of an old felt 
hat, but we prefer ivoolen cloth. Have one or two thicknesses drawn 
over a block of wood for rubbing large panels, and then finish up with 
a piece which can be folded to suit the shape of the work. The refuse 
pieces of the trimming-shop are best ; old trimming is apt to be filled 
with grit or with tacks, which might injure the work by scratching 
it. 

Friday, 21. 

If you have a friend who loves you, who has studied your interest 
and happiness, defended you when persecuted and troubled, be sure 
to sustain him in his adversity. 



44 NOVEMBER, 1879. 



Saturday, 22. 

PER-CENTAGES IN MIXING.— The painter is told at times to mix 
certain articles in the proportion of 5 per cent., or 10 per cent., etc., 
and we have often been asked by workmen to more clearly define the 
amount indicated by these figures. Five per cent, means simply ^ve 
parts out of one hundred. If we are told to add 5 per cent, of oil to a 
quantity of paint, we must first calculate the amount of paint we have : 
supposing we are to make 20 gills of color, or 5 pints, then 1 gill w^ould 
be 1 part of 20, or 5 parts in 100, which would be 5 per cent. There- 
fore, 1 gill in 20 gills, or 1 pound in 20 pounds would be 5 per cent. 
Ten per cent, is 10 parts in 100, and means, consequently, as above 
shown, 2 gills in 20 gills, or 1 gill in 10 gills. 



Monday, 24-. 

Johnnie lost his knife. After searching in one pocket and another 
until he had been through all without success, he exclaimed : " Oh, 
dear ! I wish I had another pocket, it might be in that ! " 

A VISITOR at an art gallery being asked whether he preferred pic- 
tures to statuary, said he preferred the latter, as ^' you kin go all 
around the statoos, but you can't see only one side of the picters." 



Tuesday, 25. 

STAINING OAK GRAINING.— If it be desired to change a piece of 
oak-grained work, as in house painting, to a black-Avalnut color, take 
enameled leather dressing, and apply an even coating over the oak 
grain, which will stain it a beautiful black- walnut color, and require 
no further operations, for the dressing acts as a stain and a varnish at 
the same time. In staining black-walnut, or any dark-colored woods, 
to mahogany color, put half an ounce of dragon's blood with two 
ounces of good alcohol, and shake occasionally ; when dissolved, put as 
much of this stain into alcohol as will make the wood the color desired, 
and go over with a brush. For light-colored woods, such as pine, 
beach, etc., add a little burnt umber to the above stain. To stain rose- 
wood, apply to any light-colored wood a coat of asphaltum thinned 
with turpentine, and when dry, stain with dragon's blood — but there 
will be no rosewood grain — merely the color. 



NOVEMBER, 1879. 45 

Wednesday, 26. 

Conscience is your magnetic needle. Eeason is your chart. But I 
would rather have a crew willing to follow the indications of the 
needle, and giving themselves no great trouble as to the chart, than a 
crew that had ever so good a chart and no needle at all. — Joseph Cook. 

Thursday, 27- 

The impracticability of effectually conceaHng the cracks in a painted 
surface by the application of putty or paint has been fully demonstrated 
by many of the best carriage-painters in the country, and yet there are 
those who beheve that they can do such work successfully. There 
have been several ^^ crack-fillers " or roughstuffs put in the market 
which it was said would fill up the old cracks in a carriage-body so that 
they would not again appear, but we have yet to see a job done with 
any of these nostrums that will not show the old cracks in time. The 
best method of repainting where scraping or burning off is impractic- 
able is, to sandpaper or rub the old surface well, then apply P. W. F., 
and proceed in the same manner as if it was a new job. 

Friday, 28. 

Little Things. — There are a thousand and one little things con- 
nected with the painting business that are seldom, if ever, spoken of, 
or even thought of, by the majority of painters ; w^hile, if a person 
will take trouble to examine closely, he will find that it is these little 
things that go to make up our first-class finished jobs. The painter 
who overlooks them will turn out work with a superficial finish ; it 
won't bear close inspection ; and he wonders why it is that his work is 
inferior to that of the workman across the street. 

Saturday, 29. 

Destroy Your Enemies. — It is recorded of a Chinese Emperor, 
that on being told that his enemies had revolted in one of the distant 
provinces, he said to his officers: "Come, follow me, and we will 
quickly destroy them. He marched forward, and the rebels sub- 
mitted at his approach. 

AH now thought that he would take revenge, and were surprised to 
see the captives treated with kindness and humanity. *' How ! " said 



46 NOVEMBER, 1879. 

the chief officer, '' is this the manner in which your majesty fulfills 
your promise ? Your royal word was given that your enemies should 
be destroyed, and behold, you have pardoned them all, and even ca- 
ressed some of them ! " ''I promised," replied the emperor, " to de- 
stroy my enemies, and have fulfilled my word, for see, they are 
enemies no longer ; I have mEidie friends of them." 

The cleanliness and cheerful aspect of the paint-shop may be im- 
proved by a few little things. The paint -mill, the cans, tubs, boxes, 
etc., that are used around the paint-bench may be coated frequently 
(some Saturday night) with cheap or waste color — a dark green, for 
example, made with yellow and black ; this will brighten up the 
bench, and the painter will begin his w^eekly toil cheerfully. 

Homely Maxims. — Take care of your pennies. 

Look well to your spending. 

No matter what comes in, if more goes out you will always be poor. 

The art is not in making money, but in keeping it. 

Little expenses, like mice in a barn, when they are many, make a 
great waste. 

Hair by hair heads get bald ; straw by straw the thatch goes off the 
cottage, and drop by drop the rain comes into the chamber. 

A barrel is soon empty if the tap leaks but a drop a minute. 
When you mean to save, begin with your mouth ; many thieves 
pass down the red lane. 

The ale jug is a great waste. 

In all other things keep within compass. 

Never stretch your legs further than your blanket will reach, or you 
will soon be cold. 

In clothes choose suitable and lasting stuff, and not tawdry fineries. 

To be warm is the main thing ; never mind the looks. 

A fool may make money, but it needs a wise man to spend it. 

Remember it is easier to build two chimneys than to keep one going. 

If you give all to the back and board there is nothing left for the 
savings bank. 

Fare hard and work hard when you are young, and you will have a 
chance to rest when you are old. 



1879 



DEC. 



1879 



"If well 3''ou weigh it 3'^ou'll decide 
That paint, to stand, must be well dried." 



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Monday, I. 

DEAL FAIRLY. 

Ne'er labor for an idle boast 
Of victory o'er another ; 

But while you strive your uttermost, 
Deal fairly with a brother. 

Choose well the path in which you run- 
Succeed by noble daring ; 

Then, though the last, when once 'tis won, 
Your crown is worth the wearing. 



Tuesday, 2. 

The deviltries which are most likely to occur this month, are pitting, 
crawling, silking, streaking, etc., and these are almost in every case 
attributable to cold. The temperature of the varnish-rooni should be 
maintained at not less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 



48 DECEMBER, 1879. 



Wednesday, 3. 

A LOCOMOTIVE engineer, who had just been discharged for some 
cause, gave vent to his spite in a way eminently characteristic of 
American humor. He said it was about time he left the company 
anyhow, for the sake of his life, for ''there was nothing left of the 
track but two streaks of rust and the right of way." 



Thursday, 4- 

RE-PAINTING. — One of the best plans we know of for re-painting 
over an old, cracked job, is to rub down the body with lump pumice- 
stone, wash off and let dry ; then put on a coat of Permanent Wood 
Filling in the same manner as if priming a job. When dry, glaze over 
the largest cracks with soft putty, to which has been added a Httle 
pulverized pumice-stone, let dry, and apply one or two coats of rough- 
stuff. When the latter is dry, rub down to a smooth surface, and pro- 
ceed with the coloring in the usual way. This plan will close up or 
hide the cracks for a long time, but they icill show again, and nothing 
can prevent it. 



Friday, 5. 

" What a dignity it gives an old lady, that balance at the banker's ! 
How tenderly we look at her faults if she is a relative. What a kind, 
good-natured, old creature we find her." — Thackeray. 

"He that wants money, means and content, is without three good 
friends. " — Shakespeare. 



Saturday, 6. 

PRUSSIAN BLUE. — The best method of mixing this pigment to 
form a natural color, or its tints with white, is to pulverize and mix to 
a stiff paste with Crown Coach Japan, then grind in the mill, and add 
a very little raw oil. To form light blue tints, add the blue, drop by 
drop (it is very strong), to white paint until the shade desired is pro- 
duced. 



DECEMBER, 1879. 49 

Monday, 8. 
PAINTING- CHEAP ^\^ORK. 

Supposing the job to be a buggy, first coat the body, beds, bars, 
wheels, reaches, etc., of the gears with Permanent Wood Filhng, and 
wipe off with clean rags. The gear wood- work may then be sent 
to the smith-shop, but the body should remain in paint-shop, and be 
kept either in a warm room or in the sun and air. 

Tuesday, 9. 

Apply a coat of Valentine's Ground Roughstuff, having about five 
per cent, of raw oil added, to the body, laying it on as smoothly as 
possible, and being careful that the roughstuff is not too thick, else 
brush-marks will be liable to show in the finish. No matter how well 
the job may be rubbed and painted over an uneven coat of roughstuff, 
the rough or streaked coating will be plainly seen in the finish. 

Wednesday, 10. 

Putty up all imperfections in the body, this morning, and late this 
afternoon the second coat of roughstuff may be applied. The putty 
used for this job may be made by a mixture of one part rubbing var- 
nish, one part Crown Coach Japan, thickened to the proper consistency 
of putty with one part whiting, one part dry white lead. 

Thursday, II. 

The gears being ironed, the body may now be given to the smith for 
hanging up. Remember it is always best to have the body ironed be- 
fore the roughstuff is rubbed, for, if the smith happens to burn or 
otherwise injure the paint, it can be easily repaired ; and there are few 
who can iron off a job without a '' shop mark " on some part. 

Friday, 12. 

To-day the job is in the smith's hands, and we have time to note 
down a few timely remarks. It is seldom that we see a carriage gear 
'' cleaned up '' as it should be for the painter. The smith, so long as 



50 DECEMBER, 1879. 

he gets the irons on and screwed up, seems to care for nothing more. 
We see clips drawn down into the beds, nuts turned down into the 
rims, making a hole for the painter to putty up, and many other ' ' ac- 
tual deeds of carelessness," left for the painter to ^' smooth over." 
Can't we do better on this job ? 

Saturday, 13. 

The job having now returned to the paint-shop, unhung, well filed 
and sandpapered, our first operation wdll be to repair any burned or 
broken parts of the surface, by putty and roughstuff. The gears 
should now have a thin coat of P. W. F. brushed on and well wiped off 
with rags. Remember, that a good wiping off will hasten operations, 
for the P. W. F. will be ready for the next coat much sooner. Go 
over wood and iron alike, and stand the job in a warm place to dry. 
A coat of " stain " may be added to the body late in the afternoon. 

Monday, 15. 

The gears may now be puttied or ''glazed over," with soft putty. 
But bear in mind that the less putty you use, and yet '' level up " im- 
perfections, the better. The body is ready for rubbing out of rough- 
stuff. For this purpose we advise the use of prepared rubbing-stone 
(grade 3, II.) for first rubbing ; then, to finish and make a smooth sur- 
face, choose some good lump pumice-stone. Keep a plenty of water on 
the work, for if the stone is allowed to get dry it will be apt to scratch 
the surface. There being but two coats of roughstuff on the job, great 
care must be taken not to " rub through." 

Tuesday, 16. 

Putty up any imperfections on gears, and smooth down same with 
the back of a piece of sandpaper, or a leather. The putty being quick 
drying, and there being but little used, we need not apply a second coat 
of P.W. F., as in the case of first-class work, and, therefore, a coat of 
color is next in order — (say black). This we will lay on as smoothly as 
possible, with a camel's hair brush. 

Wednesday, 17. 

The body being rubbed and well dried oiU, is now ready for color. 



DECEMBER, 1879. 51 

A coat of lampblack will serve well for a foundation or ground coat 
for any dark color, and this we now apply. The gears are ready for 
the first coat of color-and-varnish, which may be laid on '' full," with 
a varnish brush. The color and varnish should be quite strong with 
color. Use Valentine's Quick Leveling Varnish. 

Thursday, 18. 

This morning a coat of ivory black color may be put upon the body, 
after it has been well rubbed over with some half -worn sandpaper. 
After noon dust off lightly, and lay on a medium heavy coat of Valen- 
tine's Black Japan, using varnish tools, and '^ dressing" it as little as 
possible. (See Saturday Feb. 23d.) 

Friday, (9. 

The gears should now be lightly rubbed with pumice-stone and water 
and prepared for striping or ornamenting. Eastern builders make all 
their work quite plain, and would, no doubt, in this case stripe the gears 
with a single fine line of red, or blue, or some simple color, while 
fashion in the West demands light colors and much ornamentation. 
The face of the spokes, the ends of the spring-bars and bolt-heads, 
would, probably be gilded, or broad stripes take the place of the East- 
ern fine lines. 

Saturday, 20. 

To-day flat down the black Japan on body, with pumice-stone and 
water. Do not rub too much. If, as you should have done, you have 
got a clean coat on, a very light rub will remove the gloss, and pre- 
pare the surface for the second coat of black Japan. When nicely 
flatted and washed clean, put on the black Japan, having a little, (say 
10 per cent.) hard-drying body varnish added, to increase its flowing 
qualities and to give it a superior hardness for rubbing down for the 
finishing coat. 

Monday, 22. 

Give this day for the drying of the black Japan on the body, and the 
striping on the gears. The trimmer may take measurements for 



62 DECEMBER, 1879. 

cushion, fall, carpet, etc., and we will find it a good plan to have the 
shafts trimmed before the finishing coat is put on. 



Tuesday, 23. 

This will be a good day for putting on the final coat of varnish, 
using medium drying body and elastic gear varnishes. Look to it that 
the heat and ventilation of your room is all that can be desired, and 
you need have no fears of any ' ' deviltry " occuring with the varnish. 



Wednesday, 24-. 

Hang up the job, black off bolt-heads, and run the carriage into the 
show room or other warm place to harden. 



Thursday, 25. 

Dr. Franklin wishes all his friends a Merry Christmas. 

Friday, 26. 

The world wants more sunshine in its disposition, in its business, in 
its charities. For ten thousand of the aches and pains and irritations 
of men and women, we recommend sunshine. It soothes better than 
morphine, it stimulates better than champagne. Florence Nightingale 
used it on Crimean battle fields. Take it anywhere and everywhere, 
it is good for all the ills that flesh is heir to ; and who, above all others, 
needs it more than the painter who strives to do good work. He smiles 
with pleasure to see a sunny day, and he feels that heaven itself is 
only more sunshine. 

Saturday, 27. 

POLISHING VARNISH.— In polishing the inside fittings and glass 
frames of heavy jobs it is necessary that the varnish be well hardened ; 
and Valentine's Quick Leveling Varnish has proved excellent for this 
work. From three to five coats of this varnish well rubbed, after each 
coat is dry, and then polished with oil and rotten-stone, will make a 
first-class piece of work — try it ! 



DECEMBER, 1879. 53 

Monday, 29. 

'^ Which is the healthier, Oolong or Hyson ?" asks a correspondent. 
That's a question we don't care to teacup at the present time. 

John Partridge, of Pittsburgh, was thrush-ed into jail for thirty 
days for creating a disturbance. The sentence didn't make him quail, 
however. 

Tuesday, 30. 

B. C. AND V. — The cause of black color-and- varnish going '^ silky '^ 
is due to the oil in the black. Quick black may be added to varnish 
for this purpose, but oily black never ; and the best way is to grind 
black directly in varnish, then dilute with more varnish to make color- 
and-varnish. We perfer black Japan in all cases to black C. and Y. 
Have you ever tried it ? The best way is to use Valentine's '' Black 
Color-and- Varnish," in which you will find the Drop Black so fine that it 
remains in suspension a long time, and even when it has been standing 
long enough to settle, it will readily mix by shaking. 



Wednesday, 31. 

General Rules. — 1st. Let the ground or surface to be painted be, 
at the start, perfectly clean, smooth and well dried. 2d. See that your 
colors are well ground and duly mixed. 3d. Do not mix much more 
or any less paint than is necessary for immediate use. 4th. Keep the 
paint well stirred while the work is going on. 5th. Have your paint 
of the proper thickness, and lay it on as evenly as possible. 6th. Do not 
apply a coat of paint until the preceding one is properly dry. Tth. Do 
not, if possible, employ a light color over a darker one. 8th. Do not add 
dryers to colors long before they are used. 9th Avoid using an excess 
of dryers. '^ Enough is as good as a feast" should be your motto in 
this connection. 10th. Always keep dry pigments in a dry place, as 
dampness will afEect the shade of colors, and also their drying qualities. 

None are too wise to be mistaken. — Barroiv. 

Predjudice is the child of ignorance. — Haslett. 

The right kind of a boy with a pea-shooter can take a man's mind 
off his business troubles and poUtics quicker than anything else in this 
bleak, cold world. 




The Old Year can never more come back again. To us it is buried, 
buried forever. The joys it has given us, the sorrows it has filled our 
hearts with, we can now only remember as though it were but a 
dream of yesterday. The sunshine that glowed in our pathway, the 
blue sky that smiled over our heads, the brooklet that babbled its song 
in our ears, and the winds that sighed in the wildwood to us, may 
seem to-day just the same as they used to, but yet the shadow of the 
Old Year has ceased to fall over them for evermore. 



1880 



JAN. 



1880 



That painter's work will stand the test 
Who strives to do his work the best." 



Sun. 


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Thursday, I. 



BE FRANK. 

Whatever you are, be frank, boys : 
'Tis better than money and rank, boys ; 

Still cleave to the right ; 

Be lovers of light ; 
Be open, above-board, and frank, boys. 



Friday, 2. 

This is the time for general retrospection. Let us look back and see 
what we have accomplished in the way of improvement since the 7th 
day of July last, when we begun a new era in our paint-shop. 

Has the '^ American Method of Painting " proved a success ? 

Have we followed the track marked out for us in aiming for that 
goal, without stepping once aside and into the old routine ? 



56 JANUARY, 1880. 

Has our work been less laborious upon the workmen, and are they 
pleased to continue with the process of painting ? 

Have my profits been larger than in years gone by ? 

These and many other questions we may ask ourselves, and then 
placing the answers aye and nay side by side upon paper, we may easily 
determine what is best for the coming six months. 

Saturday, 3. 

The deviltries of cold weather upon varnish and paint are now at 
their meridian. Our paint-rooms are warm, well ventilated and clean. 
Our varnish-room is as good in its general arrangements as one could 
wish for, and we can almost bid defiance to the evil one in so far as his 
agency goes regarding the quality of our work. But we have another 
source of trouble. We find that ill- ventilated and poorly-contrived 
stables, ignorant coachmen, or careless boys, are, at this time of the 
year, as great pests as flies in summer. The first, ruining our work by 
covering it with ammonia fumes or dust, with dampness and lune salts 
from its walls of stone or brick. The second, flooding our glossy coat- 
ing with water at or near the boiling point, or else allowing frozen 
water and mud to remain as an outside covering to the wheels and 
under gears, for days together. How can we prevent this ? 

Monday, 5. 

Give a warm, friendly grip of the hand to any poor boy below you, 
strugghng to climb up. I do not know a meaner thing than for a boy to 
try to keep such a companion down by ridicule or petty annoyances. 
It argues a narrow, coarse-grained nature and an unfeeling spirit, none 
of which are counted legal tender for the world's favor. A manly boy 
is above such meanness. It is yourself and not your friends or your 
opportunities that will make or unmake your fortune in this world. If 
you feel that there is a margin for improvement in your case, waste no 
time in delays. The way is a very plain one, and most pleasant and 
profitable to walk in. — Huh. 

Tuesday, 6. 

'' The Hub " Chart on the Preservation of Carriages should be freely 
circulated in every neighborhood, — posted in every stable and carriage- 



JANUARY, 1880. 57 

house, — framed and placed conspicuously upon the walls of e very- 
office, until the people are educated up to that standard of keeping a 
carriage which we, the carriage-painters, possess. If you have not seen 
a copy, address a postal to" The Hub," 323 Pearl-street, N. Y., and get 
one by return mail. 

Wednesday, 7. 

How TO EuB OUT Varnish Runs. — Take a lump of pumice-stone and 
face it down with a file, then rub the face with another piece of pumice- 
stone, after which rub the face with a piece of castile soap, then apply 
a little ground pumice-stone, when the run can be cut down without 
clogging the stone, also the brush marks can be readily faced down. 

Thursday, 8. 

An Irishwoman, at a loss for a word, went into a drug store, and 
looking much puzzled, said she had come for some medicine, but the 
name had slipped her memory " intirely," but sounded like " pappy in 
the garret." The druggist, willing to make a sale, hit upon paregoric. 
"Indeed, then, that's it," said she, obtaining the medicine, and going 
away delighted that she had come so near the right word. 

Friday, 9. 

GOLD BRONZE. — The best way to use bronze is to put it on dry 
over gilding-size, using a piece of chamois or plush as a rubber ; this 
gives a metallic luster not obtained when the bronze is mixed as paint. 
My experience with bronze mixed in this way has been limited to small 
ornaments only, and I can not, therefore, speak with certainty as re- 
gards striping; but an esteemed "brother brush" of Philadelphia, 
familiarly known to the trade as Uncle Joe Edwards, says of it : "Mix 
the bronze with Japan Gold-size in a glass or china cup, and set it aside, 
and in a few hours the mixture will be found covered with a greenish 
film that looks something like verdigris ; pour this off, and then stripe 
with it, and the bronze will not darken for a long time, and, in many 
cases will not turn at all." I would add that bronze is liable to turn 
dark, when it is put on to size that is not dry enough to receive it, in 
which case it is technically " drowned " or swallowed up by the " wet " 
size. It wiU also darken when varnished over with English varnish, 



58 JANUARY, 1880. 

but no grade of American varnish seems inclined to affect it. In the 
foreign varnish, there seems to be some agent present which acts Hke 
an acid upon the metal dust, corroding it and forming verdigris, but 
by giving the work a coat of American varnish first, and then English 
finishing, if the latter must be used, no trouble will be experienced. 



Saturday, 10. 

The young ladies at a certain seminary are not allowed to ride with 
a gentleman, unless he is a near relative or an accepted suitor. Here 
is a case where the governing authority was circumvented. One of 
the young ladies asked for permission to ride with a gentleman. " You 
know the regulations of the institution," was the answer, '' Is he your 
father ?" '' No. " ' ' Is he your brother ?" ' ' No. " " Are you engaged 
to him ?" " No, but I expect to be before I get back." This answer 
carried the day. 

Monday, 12. 

SANDPAPERING THE WORK WHEN APPLYING P. W. F.— 
The object in rubbing the P. W. F. with sandpaper is to remove the 
fuzz, which always rises on moistened wood, which fuzz, being very fine 
and soft, is partially rubbed into the pores, thereby assisting as a filler ; 
and besides, the rubbing forces the liquid stiU further into the wood. 
To simply lay a thin coating of P. W. F. on the wood, and allow it to 
^' soak in," is not the proper w^ay to prime a carriage body ; and if you 
do not do the work properly, how can you expect good results ? 

Tuesday, 13. 

APPLYING PERMANENT WOOD FILLING.— In no case should 
P. W. F. be reduced with turpentine or oil, but it should be appHed in 
its pure state. The parts of the body which are covered with canvas 
or muslin should be primed with '' slush," and not with P. W. F., as 
too great an amount of the latter would be absorbed and kept in con- 
tact with the glue, which would be liable to soften the latter ; but in 
no case will P. W. F. affect other glued parts of the job. To apply the 
P. W. F., take an ordinary clean bristle paint-brush, and, dipping it 
into the liquid, spread it on a portion of the body (say on a side panel), 
giving a moderately heavy coat. No great care need be taken to spread 



JANUARY, 1880. 59 

this evenly ; it may even be daubed on roughly, for immediately after- 
ward we proceed to rub the part thus coated with a piece of fine sand- 
paper, or, still better, some that is half- worn, with just sufficient grit 
to reniove the fuzz of the wood. Then wipe off all the superfluous P. 
W. F. varnish, and our only means of doing this is by the use of a 
porous material called roughstuff. Now, if we should mix this rough- 
stuff with sufficient oil or varnish to make it anti-porous, we would be 
unable to rub it to a smooth surface ; so, to carry out our plan, we have 
to coat the rubbed roughstuff surface with P. W. F. , and we do this in 
the same manner as if priming, excepting that no sandpaper is used. 
This will effectually close the pores of the roughstuff, and at the same 
time securely bind or cement the paint into a homogeneous mass, giv- 
ing us a marble-like surface on which to spread the color. 

Wednesday, 14. 

A LADY from the country who has lately become a resident of the 
city was very much troubled at her son's long absence from home the 
other evening. A neighbor calling, suggested that he had gone to see 
the elephant. '' Ah," said the other, with a sigh of relief, " why didn't 
he tell me ? I haven't any objection to his seeing the elephant, and didn't 
even know it was in town." 

Thursday, 15. 

IVORY BLACK. — There are those who purchase prepared black 
with the expectation of getting an article ready for spreading with the 
brush, and when they find that the paint is too thick and requires thin- 
ning to a proper consistency for the work in hand, they are at a loss 
what to do with it — whether to add oil, turpentine, varnish or Japan ; 
and in some cases the paint is spoiled by the vehicle used to dilute it. 
To such people we would say : Open the paint can and take out into a 
clean cup the amount likely to be used, close the can again and set it 
away ; next, add to the paint in your cup just enough turpentine to 
soften it or thin it to a cream-like consistency, stirring it well mean- 
while with a flattened stick or a putty-knife. Now, take up a drop or 
two and apply it to the thumb-nail of the left hand, brushing it down 
level and thin with the finger — blow the breath upon it to hasten 
evaporation of its parts, and in a second it will appear quite dry, and 
flat ;" this is called ^' quick color " and is suitable for any 



60 JANUARY, 1880. 

hurried job ; but to make it perfect for coloring over the panels of a 
carriage or on gears, add to the paint now thinned a very small quan- 
tity of raw linseed oil — say a tablespoonful to a pint of paint, stir all 
well together, and then try the thumb-nail test ; the paint should now 
appear to dry with a subdued gloss — not so '' dead" as before, and if 
found so it is in proper condition for laying on. Be careful in the use 
of oil in color : too much is worse than none at all, while the proper 
quantity adds durability to the work, and gives ease in spreading it 
evenly. 

Friday, 16. 

'^ Good morning, Donnelly, I hear your daughter has a baby ; is it a 
boy or a girl V '' Sure, miss, and it's meself that doesn't yet know for 
the life of me if I'm a grandfather or grandmother, bedad." 

The major (rocking Nellie on his knee for Aunt Mary's sake) : '*I 
suppose this is what you like, Nellie f "Yes, it's very nice, but I 
rode on a real donkey yesterday — I mean one with four legs, you 
know." 

Saturday, 17. 

KEEPING CUPS. — The best method of keeping cups is to have a 
strong sheet-iron pan or box filled with potash water, into which the 
empty cups are placed, and when wanted for use, a good washing with 
clean water will at any time give you a 
perfectly clean cup. It is well to have 
plenty of cups on hand, for a scarcity often 
causes waste of paint. Varnish-cups should 
have a flat side made on the top edge, 
that one may wipe the brushes over, with- 
out fear of rounding- them (see illustration), 
and at least three cups should be used in 
varnishing a body, in order to keep the varnish for the particularly 
difficult or prominent parts, perfectly clean, and free from air bubbles. 

Monday, 19. 

A PLACARD in the window of a patent medicine vender, in Paris, 
reads as follows : ' ' The pubhc are requested not to mistake this shop 
for that of another quack, just opposite." 




JANUARY, 1880. 6i 



Tuesday, 20. 

PUTTY FOR GLASS FRAMES.— It is found troublesome to keep 
ordinary putty on glass frames, and in hearses, from chipping out, and 
we therefore add here a receipt for making a putty that will remain 
where? it is put. Take a piece of plush or velvet and draw out 
the warp, leaving a fine flc»cking (short threads), mix this flocking 
with your ordinary putty, and use in the usual manner. The short 
threads serve the same purpose as hair mixed in plaster by the mason, 
binding the particles together and effectually preventing chipping or 
breaking out in small pieces. The large glasses in hearses should be 
allowed to rest on a rubber strip, and then puttied in place with putty 
made as above ; together with small strip of wood screwed solidly to 
the frame. 

Wednesday, 21. 

Why is a solar eclipse like a woman whipping her boy ? Because it's 
a hiding of the sun. 

When will there be only twenty-five letters in the alphabet ? When 
you and I are made one. 

What is the difference between the North and South pole ? All the 
difference in the world. 

Thursday, 22. 

FORMULA FOR MIXING PAINT.— ^oiten the dry powder into a 
mush-like condition, by the addition of Crown Coach Japan, stirring it 
well with a stick until thoroughly mixed. Then reduce to a milk-like 
consistency with turpentine. This gives us what is known as '' Quick 
Color " and is useful in hurried work ; but for good color ^ add to the 
mixture a few drops (say a tablespoonful to a pint) of raw linseed oil, 
and test the drying by the thumb-nail test spoken of on page 59. 



Friday, 23. 

Self-Respect. — Always remember no one can really debase you but 
yourself. Slander, satire, falsehood, injustice — these can never rob 
you of your manhood. Men may lie about you, they may denounce 



63 JANUARY, 1880. 

you, they may cherish suspicions manifold, they may make your fail- 
ings the target of their wit or cruelty ; never be alarmed ; never 
swerve an inch from the line your judgment and conscience have 
marked out for you. They cannot, by all their efforts, take away your 
knowledge of yourself, the purity of your motives, the integrity of 
your character, and the generosity of your nature. While these are 
left, you are, in point of fact, unharmed. 

Saturday, 24. 

CLEANLINESS. — The paint-rooms should be swept often, to remove 
loose dirt and lint, for the tires of wheels have just enough paint on 
the edge to attract light dirt, many times causing a bad piece of work, 
which would have been avoided had the floor been clean. In winter, 
scatter snow over the floor and sweep the room before the snow melts 
to water. In summer, sprinkle well and let remain until a portion of 
the water has evaporated and the floor is simply damp. You can then 
sweep without rising dust. 

Monday, 26. 

'' Habit " is hard to overcome. If you take off the first letter it does 
not change it '' a bit." If you take off another, you still have a "bit " 
left. If you take off still another, the whole of "it " remains. If you 
take off another, it is not " t " totally used up. All of which goes to 
show that if you wish to be rid of a " habit" you must throw it off 
altogether. 

Tuesday, 27. 

The painter should avoid using a greater number of pigments in 
mixing colors than are absolutely necessary to produce the color re- 
quired. Another fact is, that old pigments are preferable to new ones, 
on account of their better drying and being less likely to be adulterated. 

Wednesday, 28. 

There hasn't been a saloon in Starkville, Miss., for the last twenty- 
five years. But listen — sh-h-h — you can get it at the druggist's. 

" I AM busy ploughing and cannot entertain company," was the sub- 
stance of a note sent by a Michigan belle in reply to an intimation that 
a gentlemen desired to see her. 



JANUARY, 1880. ' 63 



Thursday, 29. 

VARNISHING. — When varnishing bodies that have small panels, it 
will be found best to flow on a medium heavy coat to several panels 
before attempting to lay it off or '' dress it," else a greater amount of 
time will be necessary to complete the work, and then, it will not be 
done so well. Finishing varnish may be flowed all over a wheel before 
laying it off, providing the varnish is of the proper kind, and the room 
is of the right temperature. 

Friday, 30. 

A Wise ^^ Touchstone." — A poor beggar in Paris, being hungry, 
stayed so long in a cook's shop who was doing up meat, that his stomach 
was satisfied with only the smell thereof. The choleric, covetous cook 
demanded of him to pay for his breakfast. The poor man denied it, 
and it was referred to the decision of the next man that should pass 
by, who chanced to be a most notorious idiot. He determined that 
the poor man's money should be put betwixt two empty dishes, and 
the cook recompensed by its jingling, as he was satisfied with only the 
smell of the cook's meat. 

Saturday, 31. 

GILDING-SIZE. — Take permanent wood filling (light shade) one 
part. Crown Coach Japan two parts, and mix them well together in a 
bottle. This can then be set away for use at any time, as the mixture 
improves by age. If this size dries too quickly, or too slowly, add the 
P. W. F. to lengthen, or the Japan to shorten the time of setting and 
drying ready for gilding over. Do not lay gold leaf or bronze upon 
size until the latter is almost dry, i. e., has a very '' tacky " feeling. 

^' This is George the Fourth," said an exhibitor of waxwork for the 
million, at a penny each, pointing to a very slim figure with a theatri- 
cal crown on his head. '' I thought he was a very stout man," observed 
a spectator. '' Werry likely," replied the man, shortly, not approving 
of the comment of his visitor, '' but if you'd a been here without wit- 
ties half so long as he has, you'd been twice as thin." 

The Naked Truth. — A policeman found a boy bathing in a slip, 
near the foot of Randolph-street, and he called to the lad to come out 
and be arrested like a man for breaking the ordinance. 




^rivlns J^ti^em.* 



1880 



FEB. 



1880 



For age and want save what you may, 

No morning sun lasts a whole day." — Franklin. 



Sun. 


Mon. 


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V/ed. 


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Monday, 2. 



BE BRAVE. 

Whatever you are, be brave, boys ! 
The Uar 's a coward and knave, boys ; 

Though clever at ruses, 

And sharp at excuses, 
He's a sneaking and pitiful knave, boys. 



Tuesday, 3. 

PRIMING. — A priming, to be durable, should unite with the wood — 
grasping, as it were, the fibers, and penetrating into the pores, filling 
them, preventing the entrance of moisture, and thereby aiding to sus- 
tain the subsequent coats. At the same time it should be composed of 



FEBRUARY, 1880. 



materials which, when dry or oxidised into resins, will possess sufficient 
elasticity to allow a slight change in the wood, such as that given by 
severe jars, or by the expansion or contraction caused by a variation 
in temperature, without cracking. 

Wednesday, 4. 

Capt. Si. Jones says, '^ Harmony of colors is the something about 
a carriage which even the uncultivated buyer appreciates, though he 
may not know what hit him." 

" It is no disgrace to make a mistake once in a while, but it is a dis- 
grace to let such mistakes, when known, go out into the world." 

Thursday, 5. 

PAINTING ZINC. — It is frequently the case where the zinc panels 
or sides of a business wagon are painted in the ordinary way, i. e., 
with oil-lead, etc., the paint chips off or flakes from the zinc, and the 
painter is called to account for it. To overcome the difficulty, first 
coat the zinc with Light Permanent Wood Filling, and wipe off with 
clean rags, leaving a thin film of the material only, upon the surface, 
give from twenty-four to forty-eight hours for drying, then proceed in 
the usual manner to paint the work. 

Friday, 6. 

MIXING VARNISHES. — It is, as a general thing, a dangerous pro- 
ceeding to mix one grade of varnish with another, as the liability to 
cause deviltries is very great. But with Valentine's varnishes the case 
is different, and they may be mixed by the painter, with judg- 
ment, for it must be remembered that the addition of a lower grade 
of varnish will reduce the durability in like proportion. The painter 
who fully understands the working of these varnishes will be able to 
grade them to suit any requirement, a feature which in some shops is 
of the greatest importance. 

Saturday, 7. 

From Oshkosh : A man in the town of Rushford killed another 
man's dog. The son of the man whose dog was killed therefore pro- 
ceeded to whip the man who killed the dog of the man he was son of. 



FEBRUARY, 1880. 67 

The man who was the son of the man whose dog was killed was 
arrested by the man who was assaulted by the son of the man whose 
dog the man assaulted and killed. 

Monday, 9. 

CHINESE VERMILION. — Some years ago Chinese vermilion was 
considered the best red for striping, and the enormous demand for it 
caused extra production, while but a small portion of the pigment came 
from China. A miserable imitation was put upon the market, and, 
possibly, it is some of this " counterfeit " vermilion that you have been 
using. It is not used to any great extent by our city painters, the 
English light vermilion being much better and sold at a less price. 
This red will mix and flow freely in japan or oil. 

Tuesday, 10. 

SHARP-eyed men of business take note of a boy's general bearing, in 
making up their estimate of what he is worth. '' I would give more 
for what my eyes can tell me about a boy in ten minutes, than all the 
letters of recommendation he can bring me," said a man who had just 
selected a lad from a crowd that had applied for the place. A straight- 
forward manly bearing will help any lad to win his way in the world, 
while a slip-shod, sneaking manner usually suggests to the observer a 
corresponding character. 

Wednesday, II. 

PUTTYING. — It has been found best in practice to sink the heads 
of nails, brads, or screws quite deep into the wood, then to wet the 
places with hot water slightly, so that the wood will swell over them 
and partly fill the hole. Then putty the holes, during the course of 
painting, with more than sufficient to make the place level wdth the 
surface. All large holes should be but partly filled at first in order to 
dry hard way through, and at the second puttying should be filled more 
than full, as above. 

Thursday, 12. 

True manliness is not a garment you can put off and on like your 



68 FEBRUARY, 1880. 

Sunday coat. It must have its foundation in the inner man, or it will 
be a flimsy sham that will deceive nobody. Cultivate noble, manly 
sentiments, for, '' as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." If these 
have a dwelhng place in your breast, they will shine out in your daily 
Hfe, and be known and read of all men. 



Friday, 13. 

RUBBING THROUGH.— There is a certain amount of assimilation 
between coats of varnish, sufficient to cause them to closely adhere 
one to the other, providing the proper harmony exists in the varnishes, 
but this is not perceptible to the rubber, and he may easily rub through 
one, two or three coats and be able to see each separate layer. Care 
should ahcays be taken not to rub through a coat of varnish, but no 
very great damage will be done if by accident or want of care the 
under coats are laid bare, except it be in the last rubbing — just before 
the finishing coat is applied — when the spot or spots are liable to show 
in certain positions of the carriage. 

Saturday, 14. 

A MAN, to save money, may starve himself to death, and the conse- 
quence is that he is too weak to do work. He has not economized, for 
the result shows a waste of health and strength. A shop cannot be 
kept open without goods ; a paper could not succeed without articles 
to make it attractive, and products could not grow in an unfruitful soil. 
How then can a man expect to keep himself in bodily health without 
proper nourislmient ? When studying for the best mode to economize 
we should ascertain to a certainty that our decision is true wisdom, 
not niggardly folly. •• 

Monday, 16. 

WHITE-LEAD. — We have never recommended the use of English 
white-lead, and see no reason why it should be better than any 
pure white-lead made in this country. ''Atlantic," "Jewett's," and 
''Pittsburgh B. B."' are all good brands, and we would never look 
further for lead to use on carriage work. The "American Method of 
Carriage-painting " occasions the use of white-lead only in the rough- 
stuff (excepting for colors), and the brands mentioned above are used 



FEBRUARY, 1880. 69 

by most painters. The application of from three to five coats of lead- 
color to a body or gear is, to-day, an old-fogy proceeding. 

Tuesday, 17. 

SoiviE one observes, there is a difference between a woman's smile and 
a man's smile. There is — a wide difference sometimes. A woman's 
'' smile " is seldom stronger than soda-water, while the man's '' smile " 
is seldom weaker than whisky and water. 

Wednesday, 18. 

PREPARED ROUGHSTUFF.—^o matter how good a receipt the 
painter may have, or how carefully he may mix his roughstuff, it is 
impossible for him to measure the proportions in a small way as can be 
done in a large one. To a barrel of pigment we can easily add 10 gal- 
lons of each of the liquids used, and duplicate the mixture at dilfferent 
times, but the painter cannot so easily proportion the ingredients in the 
cup ; therefore at one time his paint will be more or less elastic than at 
another, and it is well known what effect a coat of extra elastic paint 
will have if placed under or between harder and less elastic ones. Be- 
sides, it is much handier to have roughstuff ready at all times, saying 
nothing of the cleanliness thereby gained, and the economy in time. 

Thursday, 19. 

(Herr Pumpernickle, having just played a composition of his own, 
bursts into tears.) Chorus of friends : Oh, what is the matter ? What 
can we do for you ? Herr Pumpernickle : Ach I nossen ! nossen ! Bot 
ven I hear really coot music, zen must I always veep. — Punch. 

Friday, 20. 

DRYING OUT.—Th^ '' drjing out" of the body, after it has been 
rubbed out of roughstuff is of vital importance, and should not be 
neglected. Eoughstuff, providing it is good rubbing roughstuff, is 
necessarily porous, no matter what pigment or vehicle is used, and the 
water used in rubbing is consequently absorbed by it ; therefore, it is 
essential, after the moisture has thus entered the paint, that time and 
a good position be given the work for ''drying out " before another 
application of paint is made. 



70 FEBRUARY, 1880. 



Saturday, 21. 

*' What gender is sugar ?" asked a teacher of the grammar class. 
''What kind of sugar?" asked a boy. "What kind?" repeated the 
teacher, " What has that to do with it ?" " Why, if it's maple sugar 
it's feminine gender," said the boy. " Why feminine gender ?" asked 
the teacher, with a puzzled face. " Because you can't tell its age," 
promptly replied the boy. 



Monday, 23. 

All honor to him who was " first in war, first in peace, and first in 
the hearts of his countrymen." 

' ' If my endeavors to avert the evil with which the country was 
threatened, by a deliberate plan of tyranny, should be crowned with 
the success that is wished, the praise is due to the Grand Architect 
of the universe, who did not see fit to suffer his superstructure of jus- 
tice to be subjected to the ambition of the Princes of this world, or to 
the rod of oppression in the hands of any power upon earth." — Geo. 
Washington. 

Tuesday, 24. 

Two men were riding in the cars on the Danbury Eailway, the other 
morning, when one asked the other if he had a pleasant place of resi- 
dence. " Yes," was the reply, " we have seven nice large rooms over 
a store." " Over a store ! I shouldn't think that w^ould be a quiet 
place." " Oh, it is quiet enough. The folks don't advertise." " Ah, 
I see," said his friend, in a tone of rehef. — Danbury Neius. 



Wednesday, 25. 

GROUND COLORS.— The ground upon which a color is laid will in 
many cases affect the tone of that color ; especially is this the case 
with light colors, such as drab, French gray, etc., althoug^i these seem 
to be soHd or opaque colors. Few would beheve that when two good 
coats of ultramarine blue are laid over a bright chrome yellow ground, 
that the blue w^ill appear purer or richer than if laid over a lead, or 
light blue, but it is so. 



FEBRUARY, 1880. 71 

Thursday, 26. 

One of the Norwich steamers had struck, and, while the passengers 
were hurriedly making preparations for their safety, a fat old Dutch- 
man seized a life-preserver, and, trying it on, began to fill it, blowing 
till he was red in the face with his efforts. '^ Hallo," said a bystander? 
'^ you can't fill that thing ; there's a big hole in it." A blank look came 
over the Dutchman's face. " Mein Gott, is dat so ; den I better keeps 
my wind in me." 

Friday, 27. 

CANS FOR THE BENCH.— We often see upon the paint-bench those 
long slim varnish cans used for holding turpentine, Japan, and oil, and 
knowing the trouble experienced by the paint mixer, oftentimes, when 
he attempts to pour " just a little " of their contents into his paint, we 
take this opportunity to advise against their use. An apprentice-boy 
not long since ruined a pint cup full of carmine color, by trying to pour 
a very little oil upon the top of it to prevent its drying up. The can 
being unwieldy, tipped a little too far and — well the carmine was 
thrown out over the floor and its place supplied by a mass of raw lin- 
seed oil, w^hich of course was the ruination of the whole lot of color. 
Discard them at once ! and purchase two or three old-fashioned oil cans 
having a long spout to pour from, or else suffer waste and provocation 
at frequent intervals. 

Saturday, 28. 

'^ Ephraim." said Simon, '' what does a young fellow look like when 
gallanting his sweetheart through a shower ?" ' ^ Why , " replied Ephraim, 
'' he has very much the appearance of a rain beau." 

''Charlie, what is it that makes you so sweet?" said a loving 
mother to her little boy as she pressed him to her bosom. ''I dess 
when Dod made me out of dust, he put a little sugar in," said Charlie 

A MAN who cheats in short measure is a measureless rogue. If in 
whiskey, then he is a rogue in spirit. If by falsifying his accounts, 
then he is an unaccountable rogue. If he gives a bad title to land, then 
he is a rogue indeed. If he gives short measure in wheat, then he is a 
rogue in grain. 



SYNOPSIS 

OF THE 



AMERICAN METHOD ON BODIES, 



1st day, Apply P. W. F., and wipe off, - For drying, give 48 hours. 

3d " First coat of roughstuff, a little oily, - 

5tli '^ 2d '' '' ordinary, 

6th '' 3d '' " '^ - - 

7th '' 4th '' '' '^ - - 

8th " Stain coat over roughstuff, _ _ _ 

9th '' Rub down wdth pumice-stone. 

10th '' P. W. F. rubbed over and well wiped off, 

12th '' 1st coat of color or lampblack, _ _ . 

13th " 2d '' '' ivory black, - 

14th '' 1st coat of color-and-varnish or Black Japan, 

16th '' 2d '' 

18th '' 3d '' '' '' '' 

20th ' ^ Finishing coat of Wearing Body Varnish. 



i i 


48 '' 


a 


24 '' 


a 


24 '' 


i i 


24 '' 


a 


24 '' 


I i 


48 '' 


i i 


24 '' 


u 


24 " 


'' 


48 '' 


u 


48 '' 


ii 


48 " 



ON GEARS 



1st day, P. W.F. put on the completed gear and wipe off, give 48 hours. 

3d ^' Putty up all open-grained places, - - '' 24 

4th '' Sandpaper, putty, and put on P. W. F. again, '' 48 

6th '^ Apply color or lampblack, - - - - '^ 24 

7th " Apply color-and-varnish, quite strong, - - *' 48 

9th '' Rub and give second coat of color-and-varnish, '' 48 

11th '^ Rub down, stripe, and ornament, - - " 24 

12th '' Give coat of rubbing varnish, - - - " 48 

14th '' Finish with Elastic Gear Yarnish. 

The above time is given as the minimum or shortest possible time to 
do a first-class job, but as the painter will generally have more time to 
spare upon the job, he may divide it, giving the extra time for the P. 
W. F. and the varnish coats to harden. 



1880 



MARCH. 



1880 



If you would have your work well done, 
Be sure your work is well begun." 



Sun. 


Mon. 


Tue. 


\Ved. 


Thu. 

4 


Fri. 


Sat. 


- -i 


1 


2 


3 


5 


6 


7 


8 


9 


10 


11 


12 


13 


14 


15 


16 


17 


18 


19 


20 


21 


22 


23 


24 


25 


26 


27 


28 


29 


30 


31 


- - 




- - 



Monday, I. 

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. 

Life is a race, where some succeed, 

While others are beginning ; 
'Tis luck at times, at others speed. 

That gives an early winning. 
But if you chance to fall behind, 

Ne'er slacken your endeavor, 
But keep this wholesome truth in mind — 

'Tis better late than never. 



Tuesday, 2. 

Franklin and the Lightning. — The celebrated experiment of Ben 
Franklin, by which he demonstrated the identity of lightning and the 
common electric spark, was performed by him in June, 1752, at Phila- 
delphia, Pa. Having made a cross-stick kite, he covered it with a silk 
handkerchief, instead of paper, so that it would stand rain, attached a 
tail, etc. The upper end of the cross had an iron point, connected by 



74 MARCH, 1880. 

a string to the usual kite-cord , which was of hemp. To the lower end 
of the cord an iron key was attached, and to that a short length of silk 
ribbon as a non-conductor, by which the kite-string could be safely held 
in the hand. On the approach of a thunder storm he proceeded to a 
common near the city, and, with the assistance of his son, sent up the 
kite. Ere long the thunder cloud approached, the electricity came down 
the kite-string, and Franklin, standing under a shed, received the elec- 
tric sparks through his knuckles, which he applied to the key, and 
charged his Leyden jar by putting his conductors in contact with the 
key. The rain then fell, which improved the conductivity of the kite- 
cord, and the electricity appeared in increased quantity. The news of 
the wonderful experiment rapidly spread over the world, and was ex- 
tensively repeated. In France, Professor Eomas made a kite seven 
feet high, with a fine wire interwoven in the string. The kite was 
raised five hundred and fifty feet, and is alleged to have yielded flashes 
of electric fire ten feet in length. In St. Petersburg, Professor Eich- 
man, while attempting to repeat Franklin's experiments, received so 
heavy a charge of electricity that he fell dead. This was in 1793. 



Wednesday, 3. 

When others shunned the murky sky 
Where flash on flash was brightening, 

Great FrankHn went to fly his kite, 
And bottled up the hghtning. 

And since his time, when cares oppress, 
And hard the times are tight'ning, 

The painter seeks to drown his woes 
In draughts of "bottled lightning." 

When badly tattered — his warm heart, 
A place for grief to rankle in — 

He takes the "hghtning," flies his kite, 
And thinks himself a Franklin. 



Thursday, 4-. 

THE DEVILTRIES OF VARNISH.— ''ThQ defects known as pit- 
ting, pin-holing, curdHng, wrinkling, enameling, drawing up, and going 
stringy, are mainly due to the same general causes, namely : 1. Change 
in the atmosphere from dry to damp ; 2. Mixing two kinds of varnish 
of different grades or different makers ; 3. Excessive heat or cold ; 4. 



MARCH, 1880. 75 



Varnishing over color or varnish which has not become sufficiently dry ; 
or, 5, which is sw^eaty ; 6. Varnishing with the floor very wet, or damp 
and cold from other causes ; 7. Placing cold or damp varnish on warm 
panels, or vice versa (by ' damp varnish ' I mean varnish that has been 
kept in a cellar or other damp or cold place) ; and 8, another common 
cause is the lack of proper ventilation, and of maintaining a uniform 
temperature." 

Friday, 5. 

To pohsh a carriage-body, proceed as follows : First, be sure to have 
at least three coats of some hard-drying varnish (American, not Eng- 
lish), and give at least two weeks' time for it to become hard, then rub 
the surface with pulverized pumice-stone and water in the usual man- 
ner, until the nibs and imperfections are all removed. Next wash 
clean and renew the rubbing, this time using rotten-stone instead of 
pumice-stone, and plenty of water ; wash off w^ith a very soft sponge, 
and dry carefully with the shammy. Next, take pulverized rotten- 
stone and sweet oil, and rub the parts until a gloss is obtained. Use 
soft woolen rags for the rubber. To remove the oil from the work, 
take wheat flour and a soft piece of silk. The palm of the hand may 
be used effectively in producing the desired luster. And after all the 
labor thus expended, the job will not look one-half as well, neither will 
it be so durable as one finished with a flowing coat of Wearing Body 
Varnish. 

Saturday, 6. 

If the painter uses the goods of several different manufacturers, he 
cannot put the same dependence on his work, for he knows not which 
is adulterated with fish or cotton-seed oil, nor w^hat degree of assimila- 
tion or '' grasping " there will be between the coats ; while with a pure 
and uniform oil, judiciously mixed throughout, from the foundation to 
the finish, he may rest assured of success, and be enabled to locate any 
difficulty experienced, and remedy it in the future. 

Monday, 8. 

Couldn't Tell. — '^ Is that a friend of yours ?" asked a gentleman, 
pointing to a party who was saiHng rapidly down the street. * ' Can't 
tell you till next Saturday," was the answer, '^ I've just lent him five 
dollars." 



76 MARCH, 1880. 

Tuesday, 9. 

CAMEVS-HAIR BRUSHES or ^'blenders " as they are called, and 
other flat brushes, require no extra binding ; the former being best for 
laying on fine color, the painter should have a number of them on hand, 
that it may never be necessary to change them from one color to an- 
other, for the cleansing of a brush occasions more wear than the 
spreading of paint, besides a waste of turpentine. 

Wednesday, 10. 

When a man has a "brush on the road" it does not necessarily follow 
that he is driving a brougham. 

N. B. — You must pronounce this last word " broom," English 
fashion, to get the full force of the joke. 

Thursday, II. 

BRUSHES. — The cause of the hairs falHng out or being worked out 
of brushes, particularly fitch-brushes, is attributable simply to improper 
or careless manufacture. Whether it is for the sake of economy or not 
I do not know, but many of the fitch-brushes have scarcely cement 
enough in them to fasten one half the hairs. Again, I have in some 
cases met with brushes which were made with a cement that was 
soluble in varnish, which, I have no doubt, is frequently the cause of 
'^ specky " varnish. 

If the brushes are made properly, with shellac for cementing the 
hair, and then securely nailed, there will never be trouble with them. 
To remedy the evil in a brush already in use, in respect to shedding the 
hair, place the brush in a vise just up to the nails, and give it a pretty 
good squeeze ; then open the back or handle end, and fill the interior 
with melted shellac or resin [the former being preferable], and allow it 
to remain until dry. 

Friday, 12. 

When a young man has thoroughly comprehended the fact that he 
knows nothing, and that, intrinsically, he is of but little value, the 
next lesson is that the world cares nothing for him. He is the subject 
of no man's overwhelming admiration ; neither petted by the one sex, 
nor envied by the other, he has to take care of himself. He will not 



MARCH, 1880. 77 



be noticed till he becomes noticeable ; he will not become noticeable 
until he does something to prove that he is of some use to society. No 
recommendation or introduction will give him this ; he must do some- 
thing to be recognized as somebody. There is plenty of room for men 
in the world, but there is no room for idlers. Society is not very par- 
ticular what a man does, so long as he does something useful, to prove 
himself to be a man : but it will not take the matter on trust. 



Saturday, 13. 

GRINDING PIGMENTS.— Some paints are injured by grinding in 
the mill, or by contact with metal surfaces. Arsenic-yellow is best 
ground on the stone. Vermilion should not be ground, although some 
prefer to grind it, and then to correct the orange tint thus developed 
by the addition of catrnine, but we can not commend that plan ; ver- 
milion will assimilate with the vehicles and be fine enough for any 
purpose, providing a little time is given after mixing it, and before 
use. 

Monday, 15. 

He had made a hearty meal at a restaurant, and, rising up, he said 
to the cashier: ^' I declare, if I haven't forgotten my wallet." The 
cashier fired up, and hurled big words at him for full three minutes 
before pausing for breath. When a chance came, the stranger con- 
tinued : '^ But I have fifty dollars here in my vest pocket." The cashier 
couldn't smile to save him. 



Tuesday, 16. 

EXTREME HEAT AND COLD.— These affect varnishes of every 
kind, extreme heat being more difiicult to manage than extreme cold. 
A chill retards drying, and often causes a sandy appearance of the 
varnish coat. Extreme heat causes "flattening" and "silking," and 
sometimes other "deviltries." Steam heat, a gas stove, or a good 
base-burner coal stove, will prevent the chilling of the varnish, if 
properly used ; and a good means of ventilation will, in summer, be a 
safeguard against the effects of extreme heat. 



78 MARCH, 1880. 

Wednesday, 17. 

A YOUNG lady at the late pic-nic of the New York Guild of Carriage- 
Makers, whose young man w-as engaged at the gate taking tickets, was 
heard to remark : ' ' Every cart or wagon wheel has six or seven fel- 
loes, and here I am at a carriage-makers' pic-nic and can't have one." 

Thursday, 18. 

CARMINE. — Carmine is a peculiar color to mix and apply to make 
a perfect job. One method is to mix and grind the pigment in pale 
rubbing varnish and then with turpentine. A good job can be made 
by using the carmine this way with one coat, over a ground color of 
darkened vermilion, if the job is given to a hand who is careful and 
knows how to apply it. Glazing over a jDrepared ground is the usual 
practice, and various shades of the color may be made by a slight change 
in the ground. 

Friday, 19. 

Dryers may be mixed w^ith paints at the moment of apphcation to 
accelerate drying ; but an excess of drying renders oils saponaceous, 
is inimical to drying, and injurious to the jDcrmanent texture of the 
work. Some colors, however, dry badly from not being sufficiently 
washed, and many are improved by burning, or by age. It is not 
always that ill-drying is attributable to the pigments or oils ; the state 
of the weather and atmosphere have great influence thereon. 

Saturday, 20. 

SHOWERING CARRIAGES.— li you have a hose, use a good head 
of water, and throw it on full and strong for half an hour, only being 
careful not to allow" the water to enter the carriage. Use a rose or 
sprinkler on your hose. The more water used, and the colder the 
water, the harder will the varnish become. Of course avoid letting 
the water freeze on the varnish. Soft water is preferable to hard, but 
either will do. If you have no hose, take a pail and sponge, and throw 
the w^ater on with the sponge instead of rubbing. When well w^ashed, 
dry oif with a soft, clean chamois, bearing very hghtly on the surface. 
Never let the drops of water remain on a carriage long after washing, 
as they are liable to leave spots. The carriage should be w^ashed as 



MARCH, 1880. 79 



soon as possible after the varnish has become perfectly dry, and this 
will prevent it from becoming dull if it remains in the repository, or 
from being mud-spotted if it goes out on the road. 



Monday, 22. 

Speaking of patchwork, a woman on Court street has a quilt in 
573,291 pieces. She spread it out in the yard to air, and a puppy-dog 
played it was a bear. The puppy has been unwell since, and the woman 
spends a good deal of time in the yard waiting for him to come out from 
under the house. There will be some more of this item when he comes 
out. — Rome Sentinel. 



Tuesday, 23. 

*' Why is Strakosch like the great Raphael ?" asked a Chicago musical 
gentleman of an artist the other day. '' I can't see any Hkeness," re- 
plied the artist. '' Well, I'll tell you," said the musician. " You know 
Strakosch is a great hand to bring out prima donnas ?" "' Yes." " Cer- 
tainly, of course," continued the musical chap ; " and wasn't Eaphael 
ako a great hand to bring out prime madonnas ?" The artist has not 
since been heard from. 



Wednesday, 24-. 

ULTRAMARINE requires a gcod ground-work when used pure, 
and this should be as near the desired shade of finish as can be well 
obtained with other blues. Being a very transparent pigment the 
ground must be solid, for any streaks or clouds in that would show 
through, and great care must be taken to have the surface smooth, 
otherwise, in rubbing the varnish coats imperfections in colors will be 
made. 

Thursday, 25. 

Yet another warning : Joseph Bates, of Vermont, falls dead while 
carrying in an armful of wood. Show this paragraph to your wife. 
Nay, cut it out and pin it to the w..od-shed door. 



so MARCH, 1880. 



Friday, 26. 

PAINTS AND VARNISHES ON BROUGHAM BODY. 



Material. IS 


fo. of coats. 


Weight. 


Measure. 


Cost. 


P. W. F. - - - 


1 


lib. 


1 pt. 


$.50 


Roughstuff, 


4 


12 lbs. 


6 pts. 


2.00 


Extra roughstuff on roof, 


2 


2 lbs. 


1 pt. 


M 


Black, 


2 


12 oz. 


f pt. 


.30 


Panel color, 


2 


2oz. 




.15 


Black Japan, 


8 


3 lbs. 


3 pts. 


2.00 


Colar-and- Varnish, - 


3 


ilb. 


ipt. 


.50 


Finishing Varnish, 


1 
IS coats. 


li lbs. 


lipts. 


1.00 




$7.11. 



Saturday, 27. 

A FABMER complains that a hook and ladder company has been or- 
ganized in his neighborhood. He states that the ladder is used after 
dark for climbing into the hen house, after which the hooking is done. 



Monday, 29. 

WATER-PaILS. — There should be several pails always on hand for 
water used in washing and rubbing ; and it is also well to keep one or 
two expressly for the finishing work on bodies ; for pails that are used 
in washing the hands or face soon get begrimed with grease and dirt, 
and become unfit for use. Besides the working pails of the shop, there 
should in all cases be five or six pails — iron ones are best — placed upon 
a shelf in some convenient part of the shop, and kept filled with water, 
to be used in case of fire. A pail or two of water has often saved a. 
carriage-factory from destruction ; and it should be borne in mind that 
the paint-shop is always a dangerous place on account of the liability of 
spontaneous combustion. For this reason oily rags should never be left 
in the shop over night, and lampblack in papers should be kept in small 
quantities only, and out of the reach of direct sunlight, or where it 
might come in contact Avith oil. 



MARCH, 1880. 8i 



Tuesday, 30. 

The various affinities of pigments occasion each to have its more or 
less appropriate dryer, and it would be a matter of useful experience 
if the habits of every pigment in this respect were ascertained. 

Wednesday, 31. 

LIGHT GROUND EOUGHSTUFF.—(Fov producing a hard and 
level surface on the bodies of cars.) This is a mixture of mineral sub- 
stance, combined with great care, so as to furnish a dense body with a 
sharp grit. It is ground in Japan Gold-Size, varnish and the purest 
oil, and is superior to all shop-made roughstuff (sometimes erroneously 
called "fillings "), chiefly on account of its uniformity and its being 
ready for immediate use. When used over a priming of one coat of 
Light Permanent Wood Filling, the first coat should be made elastic 
w4th raw oil, and the following coats reduced with turpentine, if re- 
quired for working. 

N. B. — Stir well before using. 

PREPARING FOR FINISHING.— In preparing a body for the last 
coat, there are few who take the necessary care to have a smooth, 
clean surface. If we were to look at the surface with a microscope 
after the rubbing with pumice-stone was completed, it would be found 
rough and full of deep scratches, small grains of varnish, gum, and 
pumice-stone here and there, and we would be surprised, perhaps, to 
see what we thought was a clean panel. AVeU, to overcome this, take 
pulverized rotten-stone, and with a clean rag and water work over the 
surface in the same manner as when rubbing with pumice-stone ; this 
will level down or polish the surface nicely, and cleaner varnishing will 
result. 

A LITERARY icc-cart driver, who had been annoyed by children who 
have been in the habit of pilfering his ice, now displays as a warning : 
*' N. B." He thinks they will understand that that means " Take Not- 
ice." 

On Monday evening his wife asked him where he was going, as she 
observed him putting on his overcoat. " I am going to sally forth," he 
replied ; and she warmly rejoined : ' ' Let me catch you going w4th any 
Sally Forth." 



1880 



APRIL 



1880 



'' Get what 3'ou can, and what you get, hold ; 
'Tis the stone that will turn all your lead into gold." — Franklin, 



Sun. 


Mon. 


Tue. 


Wed. 


Thu. 


Fri. 


Sat. 










1 


2 


3 


4 


5 


6 


7 


8 


9 


10 


11 


12 


13 


14 


15 


16 


17 


18 


19 


20 


21 


22 


23 


24 


25 


26 


27 


28 


29 


30 


— — 



Thursday, I. 

FLY LOW. 

No summer sky so clear and bright 

But that some cloud obscures ; 
No course in life so prosperous 

But that some snare allures. 
The softest, balmiest breeze may end 

In fierce and raging squall — 
Fly low, and if bad luck betide, 

You've not so far to fall. 



Friday, 2. 

WHEN SHALL WE VARNISH f— This question is now the promi- 
nent one, and we will discuss for a moment its bearings upon the in- 
terests of the craft. We find, by observation of the thermometer, that 
the temperature of the air at night is far below that of the day, and, 
by a glance at the storm record, that storms of rain and snow are more 
severe when occurring between the setting and rising of the sun than 



84 APRIL, 1880. 



at other times. These facts alone would lead us to do our varnishing 
early in the day, thus being able to nurse the tender material until a 
few hours' age had given it strength to withstand the effects of the at- 
mosphere. But it is not the low temperature or the electricity of 
storms alone that we would guard against, and no matter how well the 
arrangements are for heating the varnish-room or for excluding cold 
and wind, we have an enemy lurking around us at night that is not 
with us during the day, and that enemy to the drying of varnish is 
moisture in the atmosphere. 

The sun during the day evaporates this moisture, and the conse- 
quence is that the air then, instead of being highly charged with mois- 
ture (which falls as a dew, or as frost in winter), contains purer oxygen, 
by which varnish hardens with a bright luster, and in which atmos- 
phere deviltries seldom occur. 

Saturday, 3. 

Tom Hood mentions one grade of varnish in his " Song of the shirt," 
where he tells of a '' woman wearing body and soul out." 

One coat of color. — That which a modern belle puts on her face before 
starting for the ball. 

Monday, 5. 

THE LAST COAT OF VARNISH.— First have your work thoroughly 
clean. Pour out your varnish at least fifteen or twenty minutes before 
commencing to varnish. The varnish should be applied heavily, leveled 
by repeated brushing, and carefully examined during the operation to 
detect any foreign particles that may appear. A picker is used, made 
of a quill or whalebone, sharpened to a point, for removing the parti- 
cles of dirt or gum. Having brushed on your varnish let it stand a few 
moments, when the bubbles will evaporate and show the particles of 
dirt remaining, which can be removed by the picker. The finishing 
strokes are then given very lightly, and when possible finish the strokes 
up and down. Do your varnishing in a bold, confident manner ; use 
the brushes no more than is necessary to make the coat even, and your 
work will be perfect. The great secret in securing a perfectly clean 
piece of work, is to have the room, work, cups and brushes, etc., per- 
fectly clean ; also the clothing of the varnisher himself must be scru- 
pulously clean, for without these precautions you will not succeed. 



APRIL, 1880. 85 



Tuesday, 6. 

* ' Those who are determined to excel must go to their work whether 
willing or unwilling, morning, noon and night ; and they will find it to 
be no play, but on the contrary, very hard labor." — Sir Joshua Rey- 
nolds. 

" I DO not know a fault or weakness of his (Eeynolds) that he did 
not convert into something that bordered on a virtue, instead of push- 
ing it into the confines of a vice." — Burke. 

Wednesday, 7. 

WHITE LEAD (the carbonate of lead) is a dry, crumbling substance, 
and owes all its durability, when mixed into paint, to the vehicles em- 
ployed in mixing, the principal one being linseed oil. This latter sub- 
stance being of a greasy nature, even when well prepared, as a vehicle 
for paints, will not dry or oxidize as rapidly as desired in these days of 
quick work ; hence an addition of dryers is made to the paint, such as 
Japan, liquid dryer, gold-size, etc., and the amount of oil lessened. 
This forms a paint which, when dry upon the work, is not much better 
than the crumbling powder of white lead, possessing no elasticity, and 
ready to absorb the life (oil) of subsequent coats of paint and varnish. 
This absorption goes on through coat after coat, until the loss of oil 
from the finishing coat of varnish causes it to appear dull, and lessens 
its durability. 

Thursday, 8. 

Take Heed. — No matter how intimate you may be with the friend 
with whom you have business transactions — put your agreements in 
writing. How many misunderstandings arise from the loose ways in 
which business matters are talked over, and when each party puts his 
own construction, the matter is dismissed by each party with the words, 
*' All right ; all right." Frequently it turns out all wrong, and becomes 
a question for the lawyer and the courts. More than three-fourths of 
the litigation of the country would be saved if people would put down 
their agreements in writing and sign their names to it. Each word in 
our language has its peculiar meaning, and memory may by the change 
in a sentence, convey an entirely different idea from that intended. 
When once reduced to writing, ideas are fixed and expensive lawsuits 
are avoided. 



86 APRIL. 1880. 



Friday, 9. 

BLUE AND YELLOW^ mixed together, form grass greens. Black 
and yellow produce olive-green. There is a marked difference between 
the above shades of green, and it is very important for the painter to 
train his eye to notice this difference. If, for instance, we take Prus- 
sian blue and chrome yellow, and mix up a bright shade of green, and 
then, with black and yellow mix as near as possible an equally bright 
shade, the difference between the two will be readily noticed ; but 
where a very dark shade of either of them has been used on the panels 
of two carriage bodies, not every painter will be able to distinguish 
between the two mixtures or colors, when but one of them is presented, 
so that in touching up a job the painter will fail to perceive of what it 
was composed — and the difference should be well studied in other colors 
as well, to ensure good and ready results. 



Saturday, 10. 

The refinement that draws back from manual employment and pre- 
fers mental dawdling is a sham, and should not have social recognition. 
Better be a grimy painter, doing thorough work, than a titled officer 
enjoying a large income as a return for nominal services. Better be a 
day laborer than a pensioned loafer. Better be earning a comfort- 
able livelihood by the sweat of one's face upon a farm, or in the 
kitchen, than depending on the uncertainties of desk- work in an over- 
crowded city. Better be a simple carpenter than a hair-splitting Scribe 
or Pharisee. 

Monday, 12. 

BLACKBOARD P.4/iVr.— The following is a good recipe for black- 
board paint : One quart of shellac dissolved in alcohol, three ounces pul- 
verized pumice-stone, two ounces pulverized rotten-stone, four ounces 
lamp-black ; mix the last three ingredients together, moisten a portion 
at a time with a little of the shellac and alcohol, grind as thoroughly as 
possible with a knife or spatula ; after which pour in the remainder of 
the alcohol, stirring often to prevent settling. One quart will furnish 
two coats for eighty square feet of blackboard not previously painted. 
The preparation dries immediately, and the board may be used within 
an hour if necessary. No oil should be used. 



APRIL, 1880. 87 



Tuesday, 13. 

A TEACHER in the Port Jervis public schools was last week explain- 
ing to the children that usually all words ending with ''let "meant 
something small, as streamlet, rivulet, hamlet, etc. Whereupon a 
smart boy asked if hamlet meant a small ham. 

Wednesday, 14. 

How TO Pounce Ornaments, etc. — First draw the desired design 
with a lead pencil upon writing or drawing paper, then prick each Hne 
full of pin-holes as close together as possible. Then lay the pricked 
pattern upon a sheet of white paper, and dust over it any dry color 
from a '' pounce bag," and upon Hfting the pattern you will find the 
outlines of a perfect duplicate on the white paper ; by carefully pre- 
serving your pricked patterns you may use them again and again. 

Thursday, 15. 

'' For want of water, I am forced to drink water ; if I had water, I 
would drink wine." This speech is a riddle, and here is the solution. 
It was the complaint of an Italian vineyard man, after a long drought, 
and an extremely hot summer that had parched up all his grapes. 

Friday, 16. 

ELASTICITY ON GEARS— HARD-DRYING ON BODIES.— It is 
conceded by all good painters that the running gear of a carriage should 
be painted with elastic material throughout, to have it withstand the 
strain and jarring to which it is subjected, while the reverse is the case 
with bodies. The body should be painted with harder drying materials, 
for a soft, yielding foundation will greatly affect the luster of the fin- 
ishing coat over a large panel, while on the gears this would not be 
perceptible. '' Ring cracks," often seen on spokes and axle-beds, show 
that the painting was too hard, and large cracks on panels show that 
the foundation painting of the panel was too soft, or elastic. 

Saturday, 17. 

Sir Joshua Reynolds was asked what he mixed his colors with. 
'' With Brains, sir !" was the reply. 



88 APRIL, 1880. 



Benjamin Franklin died 1790, April 17. 

A STEP in the right direction. — That which takes a man homeward at 
night. 

Monday, 19. 

BRUSHES. — For color coats, as blacks, browns, greens, etc., either 
on bodies or gears, use the double-thick cainel's-hair blender. For 
lakes, vermilion, or glazing colors, use the badger-hair brush, it is su- 
perior to the fitch-hair or camel's-hair brush, and leaves the coating 
more even, neither showing streaks nor laps. For varnish, use either 
chisel-pointed bristle-brushes or badger-hair tools. For ordinary paint- 
ing, such as lead, roughstuff, slush, etc., use either the round or oval 
varnish-brush, for these lay the paint more evenly and wear better, 
while the common paint-brush such as used by house painters, is not 
so economical. 

Tuesday, 20. 

" I DID NOT Think." — But you should think ; for that purpose were 
your faculties bestowed upon you. A thoughtless person is of necessity 
coarse and selfish. When people do wrong to their neighbors, and 
give pain unnecessarily, to say, " I did not think," puts forward no 
plea for tolerance, but is rather a reason for condemnation, and an ad- 
ditional peg on which to hang a sermon of rebuke. They should have 
thought ; there is no good reason why they did not think ; and, if they 
did not, then they did wrong, and wrong is always wrong and repre- 
hensible. 

Wednesday, 21. 

STRIPING COLOR CUPS,— Vie frequently see small cups made by 
bending up pieces of sandpaper, and although these answer a very good 
purpose, they are not economical nor fully up to the requirements, for 
much of the liquid parts of the paint is absorbed by the paper. The 
best improvised vessels for holding paint in small quantities that we 
know of are the common hard shell of clams. These may be had for 
the asking, and when no longer required thrown away, and a new, 
clean one be substituted. A bushel of these should be kept on hand at 
all times, they cost nothing, and occupy but little room. 

Thursday, 22. 

A Milwaukee belle, attending a theatre in this city, complained in 
one of the scenes that the light was too dim to show the acting properly. 



APRIL, 1880. 89 



*' Won't you try this glass ?" asked her escort, handing her his lorg- 
nette. Hastily covering the suspicious-looking object with her hand- 
kerchief, she placed it to her lijDS, took a long pull, and then handed it 
back in great disgust, saying : '' Why, there ain't a drop in it." 

Friday, 23. 

PAINT CUPS. — The tin cups used to hold ground paints may be 
easily prepared for shop use. The patent can in which Valentine's 
Ivory Black is put up, has, when properly opened, a smooth edge and 
a nicely-fitting cover. To improve these and make complete, just 
solder a handle on one side and you have a convenient and economical 
paint-cup. 

Saturday, 24. 

Don Piatt's house in Washington took fire one Sunday morning. He 
superintended in person the moving out of his parlor furniture. The 
men carried a piano down the front steps and placed it on the sidewalk. 
''Here, boys," said Don, ''don't leave that there, or the firemen will 
play on it." 

Monday, 26. 

DISHES FOR FINE COLORS.— Uetnl cups or dishes are well 
enough for most colors, but for vermilion, carmine, fine greens, lakes, 
earthen dishes are best. Earthen dishes are also excellent for varnish, 
owing to the ease with which they can be cleaned. 



Tuesday, 27. 

Use White Lead as sparingly as possible. There is no doubt that 
lead finds its way into the human body, under certain conditions, and 
there produces a variety of morbid changes, which may in some in- 
stances terminate in death ; for the metal has often been found after 
death in the muscles, liver, brain, and other organs. White lead paint 
is introduced into the body in three ways : First, by the lungs. This 
takes place chiefly among house painters, when the lead is mixed with 
turpentine in large quantities. In the evaporation of the latter, a 
small amount of lead is carried off, and is breathed into the lungs. 
Lead dust may be taken in the same way by children and others, in the 



90 APRIL, 1880. 



room where the work is being done. The second way is by direct ab- 
sorption through the skin. The third method is by the mouth. When 
the painter is careless about his personal cleanliness, and neglects to 
change his clothing at meal time, a considerable quantity of paint may 
be taken into the bodies of those near him with their food and drink. 
This is especially true of the mid-day meal, which in many cases is 
eaten on the spot where the painter's work is going on. 



Wednesday, 28. 

PICKING OUT DUST, ETC.— Whew laying a coat of varnish upon 
a panel, spread on the necessary amount as evenly as possible, brush it 
across once to level it, then let it set for, say, two minutes ; in that 
time the dust, if any, will show itself, and this is the time to " pick 
off." Don't wait until the varnish is set and the last dressing has been 
given, as some do, but go at it now, and with a sharpened whalebone 
or stick, or a quiil — anything elastic and sharp-pointed — pick out every 
speck, then lay off or dress the varnish by crossing over it once or twice 
with light strokes of the brush. 



Thursday, 29. 

DUSTING OFF A JOB.— To thoroughly clean a body panel is, we 
know, a very nice operation, and one of the best plans for doing it is, 
after the work has been rubbed and washed as clean as sponges, water- 
tool, chamois and water will do it, to slightly dampen the extreme 
ends of the dusting-brush with varnish, and this is done by rubbing a 
little varnish upon the palm of the hand, and then gently rubbing the 
brush over it. This gives an adhesive property to the brush, and every 
little speck of lint or diist will be taken up by it, and the panel left as 
clean as it can possibly be made for the application of varnish. 



Friday, 30. 

Copy was out. The devil picked up a paper and said: "Here's 
something * About a Woman ' — must I cut it out ?" '' No !" thundered 
the editor ; ''the first disturbance ever created in the world was oc- 
casioned by the devil fooling about a woman." 



1880 



MAY. 



1880 



" He who paints with bristle or hair 
Should of his colors have a care." 



Sun. 


Mon. 


Tue. 


V/ed. 


Thu. 


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Sat. 


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Saturday, I. 

NEVER GIVE UP! 

Fair fortune is a fickle dame- 
She smiles on you to-day, 
To-morrow turns her back on you, 

And goes your neighbor's way. 
Fret not, but still enjoy the good 

That comes your way, though small- 
Fly low, and if your wings be clipped, 
You've not so far to fall. 



Monday, 3. 

A FEW years ago an unskilled workman was employed in the car- 
riage department of one of the great railway companies. Last year 
that man was appointed superintendent of the car shops, where from 
three to four hundred workmen are commonly employed. That man 
always had the habit of carefully examining all that came under his 
observation, and looking back from effects to causes. Eesult : he now 



93 MAY, 1880. 



has a salary of £400 per year, equivalent in the town where he lives to 
$4,000 or 85,000 in New York city. Not every man can be a foreman 
or superintendent, but mechanics would do well to make greater efforts 
to qualify themselves for the position than they commonly do. Such 
efforts would give them a higher and better tone, and a more efficient 
mode of doing work. There are some persons who claim there are 
peculiarities about skilled mechanics which unfit them for responsible 
positions over their fellow workmen, and every day we see inferior 
workmen raised to places of trust. But you may be sure that carriage- 
makers infinitely prefer to have practical foremen and superintendents, 
men who know the wherefore of all that goes on in the shop, and who 
have the practical experience enabling them to correct any errors that 
occur — if they can only find in combination, in individuals, these two 
quahties : mechanical skill and the poicer of management. 

Tuesday, 4-. 

Where is paper money first mentioned in the Bible ? When the dove 
brought green back to Noah. 

A COAT of color — the one presented to Joseph by Jacob, his father. 

Wednesday, 5. 

WHITE WORK. — There seems to be a misunderstanding in regard 
to the varnish for work which is painted white, many relying upon 
white Damar varnish in order to keep the pure white color ; others, 
with the knowledge that the Damar varnish is not durable, thin down 
a light-colored carriage or copal varnish with turpentine, and apply it 
in a sparse manner for the same purpose. Now it has been demon- 
strated by practice that a white job will look better, wear longer, and 
give better satisfaction in every way when finished in '' egg-shell gloss," 
and this is done in the following manner : After the job has been col- 
ored with one or more coats of pure white, mix and apply as color- 
and-varnish, either pure white lead or zinc (dry) in Valentine's Hard- 
Drying Body Varnish ; give ample time for drying ; then rub down 
with fine pumice-stone, and apply a second coat of same, adding a little 
more varnish, but not enough to materially affect the whiteness of the 
color-and-varnish. When dry, rub Ughtly with pulverized pumice, 
wash clean, and then rub nicely every part, being careful to have all 



MAY, 1880. 93 



parts look alike as regards luster, using pulverized rotten-stone in the 
place of pumice-stone. This gives the egg-shell finish to the surface. 
If striping or ornamenting is desired, this may be now put on with 
glossy color (not dead), and when dry, pencil- varnish over with Hard- 
Drying Body Varnish. 

In case there is plenty of time at disposal, and the job must be a very 
durable one, use Valentine's Wearing Body Varnish in place of the H. 
D. B. varnish. However, the latter will make an excellent job, and 
quite durable enough for most work. 



Thursday, 6. 

' ' Where the labor and expense of producing a commodity is known 
to both parties, the bargain will generally be fair and equal. Where 
they are known to one party only, the bargain will often be unequal, 
knowledge taking its advantage of ignorance." — B. Franklin. 



Friday, 7. 

The trouble experienced with paint chipping from the edges of 
springs and tires may be prevented by following these few simple rules : 
First, prime the wood and iron with P. W. F., and wipe off with rags. 
Then, when applying other coatings, be particular to wijje off all the 
paint from those parts which give trouble, and when coloring the job, 
lay the color on those parts very thin. Avoid, also, color-and-varnish 
coats over these parts. When the job is completed, there should be 
only one coat of priming, one coat of color, and one of varnish upon 
the edges of springs and tires, and these should remain intact as long 
as the other painted parts. 



Saturday, 8. 

The first step toward education is the cultivation of a receptive 
mind. He who is best calculated to teach is most willing to learn ; and 
no one is warranted in being the preceptor of others who is not himself 
still a scholar. A prominent manufacturer once remarked in our hear- 
ing : ' ' I never had an apprentice in my employ from whom I could 
not learn something." 



94 MAY, 1880. 



Monday, 10. 

FROST CRACKS. — When a carriage is run out of the shop with the 
paint and varnish not yet thoroughly hard — and this will be the case 
until the job has stood some weeks in the shop — the action of frozen 
water or mud upon the surface of the paint will be similar to that where 
quick-drying color is put over a surface of paint or varnish not quite 
dry — giving it the appearance of large or small cracks in proportion to 
the hardness of the frozen mud, the length of time it is in contact, or 
the state of the painted surface when exposed. 

The mud not only draws a portion of the oil from the varnish, but it 
contracts and expands with heat and cold. We often see a wooden 
vessel or lead pipe burst by the force of frozen water, and it is said to 
be expansion which causes it. Now, if water or mud secures a hold 
upon a varnished or painted surface, which is elastic only to a certain 
extent, it will, when acted upon by cold, expand, and, instead of slip- 
ping or moving over the paint to which it adheres, it carries the paint 
with it as it congeals into a frozen mass. The consequence is, that 
when the mud or ice is removed cracks are found in the surface of the 
paint, sometimes to the extreme depth or thickness of that paint. 

Tuesday, II. 

Life, to be worthy of a rational being, must be always in progres- 
sion ; we must always purpose to do more or better than in past times. 
The mind is enlarged and elevated by mere purposes, though they end 
as they begun, by airy contemplation. We compare and judge, though 
we do not practice. — Dr. Samuel Johnson. 

Wednesday, 12. 

HARD WATER. — Many of the troubles that beset the painter may 
be traced to the water used in rubbing and washing his work. Very 
hard or salt water, or water impregnated with lime, or with urine from 
stables, will seriously affect varnish ; and the water running from a 
dye-house, which is probably impregnated with alum or alkali, should 
certainly be avoided. Eain water is best for washing varnish, and we 
would advise a large cask to hold the rain water from the roof of the 
shop where practicable. 

Though insoluble in pure water, carbonate of lime is slightly- soluble 



MAY, 1880. 95 



in water which is ah'eady charged with carbonic acid ; and as all rain 
water brings down carbonic acid from the air, it is capable of taking 
up carbonate of lime from the soil and rocks through which it filters ; 
and it thus happens that all water, rising in calcareous rock districts, 
is more or less charged with carbonate of lime, kept in solution by an 
excess of carbonic acid. This gives water that character known as 
'^ hardness." To avoid this source of trouble, simply add a little lime- 
water^ which, by combining with the excess of carbonic acid, causes 
the precipitation of all the lime in solution in the form of insoluble 
carbonate, which settles to the bottom, leaving the water clear and 
soft. 

Thursday, 13. 

We labor too much to abolish, too little to utilize. 

It is easy to labor so long as we are encouraged by cheers and wav- 
ing of hats, but to toil on and on, with only the silent approval of one's 
own heart, requires a noble fortitude which the hero alone possesses. 

Friday, 14. 

PARIS GREEN. — Paris green is a poor color to mix or work, and is 
not so frequently used as it otherwise would be on account of several 
pecuharities, one of which is its coarse, sandy appearance when mixed 
without grinding, and when ground fine, its luster and beauty are 
diminished, for reasons which Mr. Masury has explained. It may be 
mixed as follows : Mix one pound of dry color with one part of gold- 
size dryer, two parts rubbing varnish, and three parts raw oil ; add 
one ounce of sugar of lead, well pulverized, and grind in the mill. A 
little turpentine may be added, to allow it to grind easily and to thin 
it for working. The groundwork must be solid, for Paris green is 
transparent, and will show imperfections beneath it. A ground made 
with chrome green and white is preferred by most painters. Paris 
green is sometimes used as a glazing over other greens, as in lettering 
or ornamenting ; in such cases grind the dry color in Hard-Drying 
Body Varnish and a little oil. 

Saturday, 15. 

A FEW work with the pick-axe upon the hard quartz, slowly and la- 
boriously, while the crowd scour the surface and depart satisfied ; when 



96 MAY, 1880. 



suddenly, on some lowering night-fall, the great mass falls and 
crumbles to pieces at the feet of the patient worker, yielding its reward 
of golden nuggets. 

Monday, 17. 

THE USE OF TOO MUCH DRYER IN PAINT. — '' Too much of a 
good thing is good for nothing " is w^ell said in the case of adding dryers 
such as Japan or Japan Gold-size to paint. Too much is liable to make 
the paint brittle and easily chipped off. Too much makes the paint 
porous, drying dead or flat ; it absorbs the oils of the varnish and lessens 
its durability. Too much sometimes makes the paint saponaceous or 
soapy and anti-drying. 2ho much causes waste. Look to it, then, and 
never add more dryers to paint than sufficient to dry it in proper time ; 
too much won't do. 

Tuesday, 18. 

Fully one half of the unhappy people are so because they think that 
they are, or ought to be. 

The happiness or hardship of one's condition depends not so much on 
w^hat it really is, as what one considers it to be. The kings of this 
world live most often in cottages. 

Wednesday, 19. 

TAKE CARE OF THE SURFACE.— 'Msluj painters seem to suppose 
that a slight run or a few brush marks in the coloring will do no harm ; 
but that is a decided mistake, because it spoils a surface you have 
labored so hard to make, and, besides that, it leads one into the habit 
of carelessness. You make your surface " according to Hoyle " as the 
saying is, then, bj^ using little care in subsequent operations, you spoil 
it. Be careful of the surface. Let each coat of color or varnish be 
laid on smoothly and, my word for it, you will never regret it. 

Thursday, 20. 

It is a characteristic trait that the majority of people will laboriously 
climb over an obstacle in their path three times a day for as many 
months, before they think of removing it. And even then, it is so easy 
to say : ^' To-morrow I will see to that !" 



MAY, 1880. 97 



Friday, 21. 

PARIS GREEN. — This is one of the most difficult pigments to man- 
age that the painter is called upon to use. The mill in which it is 
ground, the cup in which it is held, the brush with which it is applied, 
must be perfectly clean, or a satisfactory result will not be obtained. 

Mix as follows : Take one pound of dry color and add one ounce of 
pulverized sugar of lead, mix in four parts raw oil, tw^o parts rubbing 
varnish ('^ Elastic " or '' Quick Leveling"), and one part Japan Gold- 
size, thin with turpentine when grinding and when applying, if found 
too thick. 

Saturday, 22. 

Having ten things to do, it is much better to perform five, and leave 
the others unattempted, than to half-do or mis-do the ten. In one case, 
something has been accomplished, even though little ; in the other, we 
may have done worse than nothing. 

Monday, 24. 

Imitation Ground Glass. — To make imitation ground glass that 
steam will not destroy, put a piece of putty in muslin, twist the fabric 
tight, and tie it into the shape of a pad ; well clean the glass first, and 
then pat it all over. The putty will exude sufficiently through the 
muslin to render the stain opaque. Let it dry hard, and then varnish. 
If a pattern is required, cut it out in paper as a stencil, place it so as 
not to slip, and proceed as above, removing the stencil when finished. 
If there should be any objection to the existence of the clear spaces, 
cover with slightly opaque varnish. 

Tuesday, 25. 

Although it is wise to give main strength to your own speciaHty, 
you should not confine yourself to such studies exclusively. The per- 
fection of all your powers should be your aspiration. Those who can 
only think and talk on one subject may be efficient in their line, but 
they are not agreeable members of society in any of its departments. 
Neither have they made the most of themselves. They become one- 
sided and narrow in their views, and are reduced to a humiliating de- 
pendence on one branch of industry. It costs nothing to carry knowl- 



MAY, 1880. 



edge, and in times like these to be able to put his hand to more than 
one branch of industry, often serves a man a good turn. 

Wednesday, 26. 

For the painting of floors with oil-paint, we should only select such 
as contain earthy coloring substances, and no lead, as all paints con- 
taining the latter w^ear off too easily. 

A floor that is covered with oil-paint, and which is comparatively 
easily rubbed off, can safely be considered to contain lead. 

Lead is generally added on account of its superior density, body, and 
also being much more easily applied than most other substances. 

Even varnish that has been prepared by the use of litharge is ob- 
jectionable on account of being too readily worn off. 

Two coats of paint are usually employed, and care should be ob- 
served so as not to apply the second before the first is fully dry. 

Thursday, 27. 

The best education one can obtain is the education experience gives. 
In passing through life learn everything you can. It will all come in 
play. Don't be frightened away from any pursuit because you have 
only a little time to devote to it. If you can't have any more, a smat- 
tering is infinitely better than nothing. Even a slight knowledge of 
the arts, sciences, languages, opens up a whole world of thought. A 
little systematic endeavor — one hour, or ever half an hour, a day — and 
a man may be considered learned before he dies. Learn thoroughly 
what you learn, be it ever so little, and you may speak of it with con- 
fidence. A few clearly-defined facts and ideas are worth a whole 
library of uncertain knowledge. 

Friday, 28, 

DARKENING OF VERMILION.— The darkening of vermilion oc- 
curs not so much from impure pigment as from the imperfect manipu- 
lation by the painter. Sunlight exerts an influence upon it, but, pro- 
viding the color is properly mixed and applied, it will withstand this in- 
fluence a long time. If a darkened vermilion surface be scraped with 
a knife, the color, underneath a thin shell of gum, will be found perfect 
— as in the case of black turning green. Now the question arises, 



F 



MAY, 1880. 99 



what is this gum or dark film ? and our answer is — the vehicles of the 
paint. 

Saturday, 29. 

A CARRiAGE-painter cannot make a good job unless he has a good 
surface to work on, nor can he be a good painter unless he understands 
thoroughly the first principles of his trade. Be satisfied to do or learn 
one thing at a time ; the world is made up of atoms. When you learn 
a thing, be sure you know it, for a little well done is better than much 
poorly accomplished. 

Monday, 31. 

Among the most pleasing colors which harmonize with each other in 
pairs, are : 

Blue and gold. Blue and orange. 

Purple and gold. Blue and scarlet. 

Green and gold. Blue and black. 

Black and gold. Blue and white. 

Crimson and gold. Blue and chestnut. 

Brown and gold, Chestnut and orange. 

Brown and orange. Green and orange. 

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMBINING AND MIXING.— 

When different ingredients are mingled together without undergo- 
ing any chemical change, they are said to be mixed ; but when the 
natural properties of each are altered by the union, then those ingredi- 
ents are said to be combined. The painter makes various mixtures 
and but few combinations. When he takes red and yellow, and pro- 
duces the hue called orange, or blue and yellow and forms green, he 
has mingled two colors which remain distinct, although they are not 
visible to the naked eye. 

When he applies ammonia (not alkali) to the varnish on an old body, 
in order to soften it, he produces a combination. The ammonia com- 
bines with the oil of the varnish, and the properties of each are 
changed and form a soapy compound having slight adhesiveness, which 
is easily removed with the putty knife. 

Sometimes the varnish on an old body resists the action of ammonia. 
This is from the fact that the oily substance is dried out of the var- 
nish, leaving only the resinous part behind. 




.fcoRAriNC. 



1880 



JUNE. 



1880 



Look well to your priming 

And never desert your colors ! " — Gardner. 



Sun. 


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V/ed. 

2 


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Fri. 

4 


Sat. 


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9 


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Tuesday, I. 

TURNING OVER THE NEW LEAF. 

The year begins. I turn a leaf, 

All over writ with good resolves ; 
Each to fulfil will be in chief 

My aim while earth its round revolves. 
How many a leaf I've turned before, 

And tried to make the record true ; 
Each year a wreck on time's dull shore 

Proved much I dared, but little knew. 



Wednesday. 2. 

The months of June, July and August are to the painter the most 
trying ones of the year. The " deviltries " caused by extreme heat 
will frequently vex him, and no doubt call out anathemas on the var- 
nish maker, when that often berated individual is entirely innocent of 
wrong doing. The most troublesome, or, at least, the most frequent 



103 JUNE, 1880. 



'' deviltry " during the heated term is that known as " sweating." We 
do not speak of perspiration which heat or hard labor brings out upon 
the brow of the toiler, but the return of the gloss upon a varnished 
surface, after it has been removed from the varnish by rubbing with 
pumice-stone and water. This '^ sweating " of a coat of varnish is the 
cause of pitting, enameling, silking, and several other deviltries, and it 
is to some painters a terrible visitor. Now, to silence forever the cry 
of '* sweating " and make with one swoop a death-blow to the bug-bear 
(for it is that and nothing more), we exhort the painter to follow these 
simple directions : 

Fi7^st. — Apply all varnish coats with a medium degree of thickness — 
not too heavy. 

Second. — Lay each coat as evenly and as clean as if it was to be the 
finish. 

Third. — Give a reasonable time for drying, then simply '* flat" the 
surface. Do not rub the varnished surface too much. 

Fourth. — Wash the job clean, and immediately apply the varnish. 
Do not let the work stand a half -hour — ''put on the varnish right 
away," and our word for it, the troubles of " sweating " will be over- 
come. 

A resinous, hard-drying, inelastic varnish will not "sweat" easily, 
and many use such a one, depending upon a good finishing varnish to 
protect it, but such work is not durable. There is no perfect assimila- 
tion between the coats apphed, and where this is not present no wear- 
ing qualities exist. 

Use a good quality of elastic varnish, rub lightly, and var- 
nish IMMEDIATELY after rubbing. 



Thursday, 3. 

You are more sure of success in the end if you regard yourself as a 
man of ordinary talent, with plenty of hard work before you, than if 
you think yourself a man of genius and spend too much time in 
watching your hair grow long, that you may convince people that you 
are not like other folk. 

A CLERGYMAN had a milk-white horse, which on account of its beau- 
tiful form he called Zion. Having ordered his horse, a friend asked him 
where he was going. " Why," said he ''to mount Zion.''^ 



i 



JUNE, 1880. 103 



Friday, 4. 

IMPORTANT FEATURES IN PAINTING. 

VARNISHES. — The importance of employing materials throughout 
a job of painting that will harmonize one with the other, is sometimes 
overlooked, and we think it quite proper to describe briefly the var- 
nishes which may be used in the ' ' American Method of Carriage Paint- 
ing " with absolute safety as regards their assimilation with the under 
coats of paint, while the world-wide reputation of these goods (Valen- 
tine's Varnishes) prevents us from extending our remarks thereon. 
Read the Hst carefully. 

Saturday, 5. 

WEABING BODY VABNISH.— This varnish is made of the best 
materials the inventive genius of man can compound. It is designed 
for the final or finishing coat over carriage bodies, is pale in color, and 
exceedingly limpid, so that it works well under the brush and possesses 
that quality so much admired by the varnisher, and known as '' thick- 
ening under the brush," in order that a heavy coat may be laid upon a 
panel without fear of its running down in festoons or clouds and heavy 
masses. It is the king of all varnishes made, i.e., the best, most durable, 
brilliant, and therefore valued at the highest price of varnishes. This 
varnish is less liable to turn blue by reason of dampness than most 
finishing varnishes. 

Monday, 7. 

MEDIUM DBYING BODY VARNISH.— This varnish is next in 
grade to the Wearing Body Varnish, the only difference being in its 
drying qualities. It dries and hardens more quickly, rendering it 
better adapted for tropical climates or for use in hot weather in the 
temperate zone. It is used upon carriage bodies mostly, although it 
may be applied to gears when desired. This varnish is preferable for 
painters who are obliged to work in unclean shops, on account of its 
drying out of the way of dust quickly. 

Tuesday, 8. 

ELASTIC GEAR VARNISH.— This varnish is made more particu- 
arly for the wheels and under parts of a carriage, and although pos- 



104 JUNE, 1880. 



sessing a large share of elasticity, will dry in from eight to ten hours 
sufficiently hard for handling. One coat of this varnish over a well 
made foundation will give extreme durability. Like the Wearing Body 
Varnish it works nicely under the brush, and the painter may easily 
lay it over a wheel before giving it the final '"dressing" or laying 
off. 

Wednesday, 9. 

ELASTIC LEVELING VARNISH.— Thi^ YSirni^h is similar to the 
Hard- Drying Body Varnish, but is made to dry and harden for rubbing 
quicker. It is fully equal to the H. D. B. in paleness and ease in work- 
ing. 

Thursday, 10. 

QUICK LEVELING VARNISH.— This varnish dries quicker and 
harder than either of the other rubbing varnishes mentioned, and for 
hurried work is just the requirement. It is an excellent varnish for 
inside house work or for furniture, or in any place where hard and 
quick drying is required. It is pale and limpid, and is much used for 
color -and- varnish coats on cheap work. 

Friday, II. 

ENAMELED LEATHER VARNISH.— This is a preparation for giv- 
ing leather that appearance it had when new. It dries very quickly 
and should be used as follows : First clean the leather thoroughly with 
soap and water, and when drj^, if soft and pliable, put on at once a 
thin coating of this dressing, using a medium- size bristle brush. Should 
the leather be very hard, old and stiff, apply just a coating of our Dark 
Permanent Wood Filling with a brush and sponge, and wipe well with 
rags so as to leave no P. W. F. on the surface. Let stand over night 
to dry ; then apply a coat of this Dressing, which will dry in an hour 
or so read}^ for use. This varnish may also be used as a staining over 
oak-grained wood-work in houses, to give a black-walnut appearance 
to the same. 

Saturday, 12. 

RAILWAY COACH FINISHING VARNISH.— This is to the car 
painter what Wearing Body is to the carriage painter — the best quality 



» 



JUNE, 1880. 105 



of varnish for the exterior of railroad cars. It is the custom of car 
painters novv-a-days to apply two coats of this varnish, instead of more 
rubbing coats. A good washing and a drying with a chamois will pre- 
pare the surface for the second coat, providing it be applied immediately 
and before any sweating of the surface begins. This adds greatly to 
the durability of the work. 

Monday, 14. 

INSIDE CO A CH FINISHING VARNISH.— T:\i\^ varnish is intended 
for the finishing coats on car interiors and where great dispatch is 
necessary one coat over a surface made by Inside Rubbing Varnish 
wdll answer w^ell, but it is recommended in ordinary cases to flow on 
two coats in the same manner as mentioned for the outside of the car. 
A car finished with these varnishes will only require a single coat of 
the same annually to preserve the paint for years. How often w^e see 
cars, painted at the expense of several hundred dollars, almost denuded 
of their paint in a few months, because varnished wath an insufficient 
number of coats, or with an article lacking in durability — thus causing 
a total loss of both paint and varnish, and of the time and labor spent 
in applying them, when an application, at the outset, of enough coats 
of a durable varnish, with the renewci! of a single coat each year, 
would have preserved both wood and paint as long as the car held 
together. 

Tuesday, 15. 

ONE COAT COACH VARNISH.— This is a heavier-bodied varnish 
than the usual finishing varnishes, and is intended for finishing work 
where a single coat only is practicable, as, for instance, the re varnish- 
ing of a livery-stable job or hack, and for cheap work, where a few 
coats of paint or varnish saved is a consideration. It possesses very 
excellent qualities of brilliancy and durability, and gives general satis- 
faction w^herever used. 

Wednesday, 16. 

HARD DRYING BODY VARNISH.— This is the finest quality of 
rubbing varnish made. It is fully equal to the above mentioned finish- 
ing varnishes in paleness, fullness, and luster, and is frequently used 
for finishing hurried work. It w^orks well under the brush, and in 48 
hours may be rubbed with pulverized pumice-stone and water prepara- 



106 JUNE, 1880. 



tory to receiving a finishing coat. Although intended for carriage 
bodies, it is one of the best ingredients for color-and-varnish on either 
bodies or gears, and for use in some paints or for glazings, particularly 
for white work. 

Thursday, 17. 

LOCOMOTIVES, being varnished more frequently than cars, and 
the varnish ujDon them being protected somewhat by the oil from the 
'' waste " used in cleaning them, do not require so durable an article as 
Railway Coach Finishing, and usually sufficient time cannot be given for 
it to dry ; we therefore commend for this work Locomotive Finishing in 
place of it. The dispensing with a quicker varnish for under coats is 
just as desirable on the inside as on the outside work of cars, and be- 
cause of the increased durability, we recommend the use of Inside 
Coach Finishing for all the coats inside of cars, and Locomotive Finishing 
for all the coats on Locomotives and Tenders when time can be taken ; 
but, when dispatch is indispensable, or of more importance than dura- 
bility, many use Inside Coach Rubbing and Locomotive Rubbing for 
the under coats. 

Friday, 18. 

CRACKING. — To prevent color-coats from cracking, use Japan Gold- 
size (an oil drier) ; which, being a binder and hardener, as well as a 
dryer of great strength, is less detrimental than common shellac Japans, 
but half the quantity being required. If you observe the work in a 
steam or horse-car, it will commonly be found cracked, and a careful 
examination will generally show the cause to be in the paint, or, on 
unpainted work, in the brittle undercoats of varnish, used to fill the 
pores and to level over. This can be avoided by mixing the color-coats 
with Japan Gold-size. This article is peculiarly valuable on Railway 
work, where light colors are used, because of its paleness and the small 
quantity required. 

Saturday, 19. 

" TOUCHING UP.''^ — Many painters are disinclined to use Black 
Japan on account, as they say, of trouble in matching the jet black if 
a spot is rubbed through and *' touching up" is necessary. Now 
this is all hosh. In the first place the job should be — at the time for 
the last coat of varnish — so level, and so well rubbed, that no rubbing 



JUNE, 1880. 107 



through or touching up places are to be seen. However, accident may 
cause these places, and to *' touch up," first go over with a thin coat of 
quick Ivory Black, then with common asphaltum — which can be pro- 
cured at any paint store — thinned down with turpentine and put on 
with a small camel's-hair brush, the spot will appear the same in color 
as other parts of the job. 

Monday, 21. 

SPECKS IN VARNISH.— The painter will say to us sometimes : 
* * In using my finishing varnishes my carriage bodies appear to be aU 
full of little specks. I have strained my varnish thoroughly, but all to 
no purpose ; please tell me what is the cause of this, so that I may rem- 
edy the evil." We answer : specks in a coat of varnish are caused by 
cold, as when the can containing the varnish has been left in an exposed 
position, or when the room or the panels are cold ; also, by txirpentine, 
if the brushes were rinsed out or suspended in turpentine. A trifling 
amount only is sufficient to spoil a cup full of varnish. 



Tuesday, 22. 

FLIES. — These pests to the painter are kept in the minority to a 
great extent by keeping the paint-rooms, and especially the varnish- 
room, dark. Camphor-gum placed around on window-ledges and out- 
of-the-way places is also a preventive against the swarming of small 
gnats, flies, millers, etc., and as it is quite inexpensive, a good supply 
should always be on hand. 

Wednesday, 23. 

HARD-WOOD FINISHING. There is much hard- wood finishing to 
be done on heavy work, such as card-cases, stable shutters, etc., and 
these should be polished. Take Valentine's Quick Leveling Varnish, 
and after applying from four to five coats, giving time between each 
coat for drying, rub down well first with pumice-stone, then w4th rot- 
ten-stone, and lastly with sweet oil and rotten-stone mixed. For inside 
fittings that are to be in imitation of ebony, soak the wood in a decoc- 
tion of logwood, then in another of vinegar and iron-rust, and rub to a 
smooth surface with fine emery-paper. 



108 JUNE, 1880. 



Thursday, 24. 

IxsiDE FiTTixGS. — The card-cases, mirrors, and other inside fittings 
of a close carriage are frequently made of maple or soft wood and then 
deyd to imitate ebony, and this ebony finish is simply the common black 
stain made from the same ingredients as common ink. A solution of 
sulphate of iron, green vitriol or copperas, which is all the same thing, 
is washed two or three times over the wood, letting it dry each time, 
then a strong decoction of logwood is passed hot over it, also two or 
three times ; when dry, wipe with a sponge and cold water, rub well 
with linseed oil, and finally polish, either in the French way or with 
the brush. 

Friday, 25. 

Choice of Hair Tools. — Round and flat brushes are used, but the 
flat are more useful. They should be neatly made and yet very strong, 
and the hair should not be cut at the points, but smooth to the touch. 
They should also be very elastic, springing back to their shape when 
in use, and the hair should be silky-looking. There should be no di- 
verging hairs, but their shape should be wedge-like. Polished cedar 
handles ensure thorough cleaning, and they are more pleasant to use. 
Sable tools should come to a firm, fine point, and the hair must be of a 
pale yellow cast. They can be had both flat and round. Badger tools 
are superior when the hair is light, long and pliant ; in color black, 
with white ends. Instead of coming to a point, the hairs diverge. 
They seldom want cleaning, as used by gilders. 



Saturday, 26. 

SWEATING OF VARNISH COATS.— Definition.— The greasy gloss 
which makes its appearance upon a varnished surface, after it has been 
rubbed with pumice-stone and water, then allowed to stand for some 
time. 

Causes. — 1. When varnish is applied over color or color-and- varnish 
that is not thoroughly dry, it seals up and prevents the hardening of 
that under-coating, and the drying process is delayed for a length of 
time beyond that generally given for the varnish to harden ; then, if 
rubbed, this drying out process goes on and is made visible by a partial 
return of the luster or gloss. 



JUNE. 1880. 109 



I 



2. When varnish — although put over a well-dried surface — is laid on 
too heavy, or put on in patches and not uniform all over the work, 
it will not harden well, and when rubbed will '* sweat" in parts of the 
work. 

3. When varnish is rubbed too much, that is, rubbed nearly all off, 
that which remains upon the work, not being hard, will sweat, if 
allowed to stand a while. 

4. Sweating is therefore nothing more than evidence that the drying 
process is still going on, and proves that the varnish or the under 
coats are not yet hard or dry. 

Effects. — The effect upon a coat of varnish applied over a sweated 
surface is to produce small indentations or pin-holes all over the work, 
or to cause the varnish to appear rough, like enameled leather, or 
streaked, as the threads of silk, technically called ''pitting," ''pin- 
hoHng," " enameling," "silking," etc. 

RenicD'ks. — Although "sweating" occasions, at times, great trouble 
and expense, and is the cause of much poor work, the painter need 
have no trouble from it if he will do his ivork in ct proper manner ! 
Sweating is of no consequence if the job be rightly treated. 

The fact that the under coats or that the varnish is not thoroughly 
hard and dry, need not disturb the painter, for if varnish be applied to 
the rubbed surface before the sweating makes its appearance (and there 
is always time enough to do this) no deviltry will occur. 

The great trouble is, painters are too apt to be careless with their 
rubbing coats and "pile on more than enough," or else have it well 
sprinkled with dust and hairs from the brush, saying : " No matter, it 
has yet to be rubbed," and w^hen the rubbing time comes, there is a 
good deal of rubbing to be done in order to get the " nibs " out and to 
make the work smooth. Now, this is all wrong ; such men can make a 
good job — in appearance — with a hard furniture varnish, but with a 
good, durable varnish they are incompetent. And it is no wonder that 
work which ought to be durable because of its good foundation and 
good material in the finish, is found to decay rapidly when a hard 
rubbing varnish that never sweats is used simply because a fear of the 
effects of sweating in a real good varnish is entertained. It is like 
making a sandwich of good bread and rotten meat. 

Sweating, and the deviltries it produces, are bug-bears easily driven 
away. 

Lay on your varnish coats as if every one of them w ere for the finish. 



110 JUNE, 1880. 



Rub the surface, after a reasonable time, just sufficient to '' flat it." 
Wash the job clean with cold water, dry off well with a chamois, and 

apply the next coat IMMEDIATELY. 

Do not allow the job to stand even a half hour before varnishing, and 

sweating will be an obsolete term, used only by painters who don't 

know their business. 

Monday, 28. 

SWEATING OF VARNISH COATS.— Foor, resinous varnishes will 
not "sweat." 

Good, elastic and durable varnishes will sweat, when not thoroughly 
dry, after the surface is rubbed with pumice-stone and water. 

" Sweating" does not impair the work, but the troubles arising from 
it, such as " pitting," "enameling," etc., are to be. deplored. There- 
fore, to prevent the " sweating " of a surface, the painter should apply 
the varnish coat IMMEDIATELY after the rubbing and cleansing of 
the work. 

" WHAT THE EYE DON'T SEE THE HEART WON't GRIEVE FOR." 

If you never allow a job to stand after it has been rubbed down with 
pumice-stone and water, you will never see " sweating," and conse- 
quently have no such deviltries occurring in your shop as " crawling," 
"pitting," etc., which are caused by sweating. 

"this varnish does not 'sweat!'" 

No, it is a hard, inelastic, resinous varnish, and will not " sweat," 
causing "pitting," "enameling," etc., and if you do not put a good 
finishing varnish over it, it will not be very durable. Why are you 
afraid of a sweating varnish ? You need not let it " sweat." No oc- 
casion for it whatever. It's all nonsense to say the body is ruined on 
account of sweating of the varnish ! Rub the surface lightly and lay 
the varnish on immediately. Don't stand like an idiot looking at the 
job until the " sweat " comes out on the surface, and you need never 
know what " sweating" is. 

Tuesday, 29. 

You cannot make yourself better by simply resolving to be better at 
some time or other, any more than a farmer can plough his field by 
simply turning it over in his own mind. A good resolution is a fine 
starting point, but as a terminus it has no value. 



JUNE, 1880. Ill 

Wednesday, 30. 

This day brings us to the end of the almanac, and ere I bid adieu to 
my readers, I wish to say : That should there be any point discovered, 
or any statement made in the practical portions of my book which con- 
flicts with the experience of the reader, it would please me, as well as 
be a source of information, if he will write me his views thereon ; and 
if he be pleased or benefited in any manner by perusing these pages, I 
ask as a favor that he drop me a postal card stating such fact. 

Address ThE AuTHOR. 

323 Pearl-st., 

New-Vork. 



PAIISTTHSTG^ A WHITE JOB. 

To paint a white sleigh by the '' American method." First, dust off 
the body, and with a clean brush apply a coat of P. W. F., using no 
particular care to have it lay nicely. Daub it on, we might say. Then 
proceed to wipe off all superfluous P. W. F. That is, do not allow 
anything like a surface coat as of varnish or paint to remain. Wipe it 
as dry as possible. A sufficient amount of P. W. F. will have pene- 
trated the surface to insure good results. Next, stand the job aside to 
dry for forty-eight hours. When this time has passed, lay on a coat 
of Valentine's Light Poughstuff as smoothly as possible ; and here let 
us remark, the smoother the foundation coats are laid, and the less 
number of brush marks left in sight the smoother will be the finish, 
and the less labor it will entail upon the operator. 

The first coat of roughstuff should have a little oil added, say about 
five per cent, to make it harmonize with the P. W. F. properly. Then 
give it twenty-four hours for drying. When dry, putty up all the 
holes and imperfections in the surface, and apply the second coat of 
Valentine's Light Roughstuff, using no oil, but simply thinning it with 
turpentine to have it spread nicely. Give twenty-four hours for 
drying. Next completely fill all screw and nail holes with putty and 
lay on the third coat of roughstuff. The following day a coat of stain- 
ing may be applied. This is simply some color, say Indian red mixed 
with Japan and turpentine, which will color the surface so that the 
rubber may easily see when he has rubbed the roughstuff sufficiently. 
This stain coat will dry rapidly, although it is best, when time is no ob- 
ject, to let the job stand for drying as long as possible. 



112 PAINTING A WHITE JOB. 

Now rub down the rough stuff carefully ; wash off clean, dry well, 
and set the job aside until the next day, in order that the water or 
moisture absorbed by the paint may evaporate. 

Next, take the Hght shade P. W. F., it being a trifle thinner and 
easier to work, and apply a thin coating directly to the rubbed surface. 
This penetrates the porous paint, and effectually closes it against ab- 
sorption, as well as giving the surface extra binding and elastic quali- 
ties. Wipe off as clean as rags will wipe it, and let it stand twenty- 
four hours. When this has been done the job is ready for color. 

The color we mix as follows : Take keg-lead of good quality, and 
mix with turpentine a considerable more than wanted for the job in 
hand, to a thin, milky consistency. Allow it to set until a large por- 
tion of the lead has gone to the bottom, when the thin oil and turpen- 
tine found floating on top may be poured off. This is done to remove 
the excess of oil in the lead which would be detrimental to the paint 
as a color to be spread with a soft camers-hair brush. When the lead 
has settled and the superabundant liquid poured off, take a small 
quantity of the lead and reduce it to a working consistency with tur- 
pentine, then add a tablespoonful of Japan gold-size to each pint of 
mixed paint. Stir well, and apply with a soft brush, leaving as few 
brush marks as possible. The next day apply a second coat of the 
same. The day following take some of the settled lead, and add to it 
some hard Drying Body Varnish to form color-and- varnish. Apply this 
with varnish brushes, and give from two to three days for drying. 
When dry, rub down nicely with pulverized stone and water, and apply 
a second coat of color and varnish, made by mixing zinc- white (oxide 
or zinc) with Wearing Body Varnish, in the same manner as before 
with mixing lead and varnish. One heavy flowing coat of this should 
make a clean and pure white job. Give three or four days to dry ; 
then rub off all extra gloss or luster with pulverized rotten-stone and 
water, leaving the surface with an egg-shell gloss, and hang up the job. 

If in eight or ten months this job shows signs of discoloration or 
decay (the latter is not probable) run the job into the shop and lightly 
rub with rotten-stone again ; or if very much discolored, apply another 
finishing coat of zinc and varnish. 

If striping or other ornamentation is desired, this should be done on 
the finished ground, and then pencil- varnished. 

This plan of operation has invariably proved a success, and is highly 
recommended by the best painters in the United States. 



RECEIPTS FOR MIXING COLORS. 113 



We furnish the following receipts for mixing colors more particu- 
larly required in painting carriages and sleighs. The proportions are 
not, of course, arbitrary, and it would be impossible to make them so, 
for pigments are not always uniform, even when bearing the same name 
and general appearance. Thej^will serve, however, as a good general 
guide, and any painter after a little experience will learn to change the 
proportions to suit either the strength of the pigments or his own taste : 

French Red — This color is simply Indian red lightened with vermi- 
lion, and^glazed with carmine. 

Chocolate Color — Add a little lake or carmine to a pot of burnt 
umber ; or take Indian red and black to form a brown ; then add a very 
little yellow, to bring about the desired shade. 

Yellow Lake — Take of umber and white equal parts, add a small 
quantity of Naples yellow and a drop of scarlet lake ; glaze with yel- 
low lake. 

Olive Brown — Mix one part of lemon yellow with three parts of 
burnt umber. Change proportions for different shades. 

Clay Drab — Raw sienna, raw umber, and white lead, equal parts ; 
then tint with a few drops of chrome green. 

Bismarck Br oxen — Take 1 ounce of carmine, ^ ounce crimson lake, 
and 1 ounce best gold bronze, and mix together. If a hght shade is 
desired, use vermilion in place of carmine. 

Jonquil Yellow — Mix flake white and chrome yellow, and add a very 
little vermilion or carmine. 

Medium Gray — Eight parts of white to two of black. 

Lead Color — Eight parts white, one of blue, and one of black. 

Light Buff — Yellow ochre, lightened with white. 

Deep Buff — The same, with the addition of a little red. 

Fi^ench Gray — White, tinted with Ivory Black. 

Gold Color — White and yellow, tinted with red and blue. 

Pearl Color — White, black and red, in proportion to suit taste of 
the painter. 

Canary Color — White and lemon yellow, or patent yellow. 

Oak Color — Eight parts of white, and one of yellow ochre. 

Olive Color — Eight parts of yellow, one blue, and one black. 

Snuff Color — Four parts of yellow, and two of Vandyke brown. 

Rose Color — Five parts of white, and two of carmine. 

Bottle Green — Dutch pink and Prussian blue for ground ; glaze with 
yellow lake. 



114 BECEIPTS FOR MIXING COLORS. 



Salmon Color — Five parts of white, one yellow, one umber, one red. 

Broivn — Three parts of red, two black, and one yellow. 

Copper Color — One part red, two of yellow, and one black. 

Lemon Color — Five parts of lemon yellow, and two of white. 

Straw Color — Five parts of yellow, two of white, and one of red. 

Fawn Color — Eight parts of white, one of red, two yellow, and one 
umber. 

Flesh Color — Eight parts of white, three of red, and three of chrome 
yellow. 

Chestnut Color — Two parts of red, one black, and two chrome yellow. 

Wine Color — Two parts of ultramarine, and three of carmine. 

Green — Blue and yellow, or black and yellow. 

Maroon Color — Three parts of carmine, and two of yellow. 

Tan Color — Five parts of burnt sienna, two yellow, and one raw 
umber. 

Pea Green — Five parts of white, and one of chrome green. 

Stone Color — Five parts of white, two yellow, and one of burnt 
umber. 

Citron — Three parts of red, two yellow, and one blue. 

Drah Color — Nine parts of white, and one umber. 

Lilac — Four parts of red, three white, and one blue. 

Purple — The same as lilac, but differently proportioned ; say, two 
parts of blue. 

Violet — Similar, but more red in it than purple. 

London Smoke — Two parts umber, one white, and one red. 

Cream Color — Five parts white, two yellow, and one red. 

Claret Color — Red and black, or carmine and blue. 

Dove Color — Red, white, blue and yellow. 

Light Gray — Nine parts white, one Blue, and one black. 

Willoiv Green — Five parts white, and two verdigris. 

Peach Blossom — Eight parts white, one red, one blue, and one 
yellow. 

Bronze Green — Five parts chrome green, one black, and one umber. 

Carnation Red — Three parts lake, and one white. 

Grass Green — Three parts yellow, and one Prussian blue. 

Brick Color — Two parts yellow ochre, one red, and one white. 

Portland Stone — Three parts raw umber, three yellow ochre, one 
white. 

Plum Color — Two parts white, one blue, and one red. 



INDEX 



Page 

The American Method of Carriage 

Painting 6 

Priming with P. W. F 6 

Roughstuff 7 

Putty 7 

Applying roughstuff 7 

Smoked and burned places 8 

The last coat of roughstuff 8 

Selecting pumice-stone 9 

P. W. F. over the roughstuff. ... 9 

Color and varnish on gears, 9 

Coloring the body 9 

Black Japan 10 

Striping 10 

Finishing the body 11 

" Hanging up " 11 

Mixing colors 14 

Improving carriage tops 14 

Greasy color 15 

Clean varnish cups 15 

A world within itself 16 

The varnish-room floor 16 

Black Japan 17 

Permanent Wood Filling 17 

Painter's rule 18 

Chipped work 18 

Varnish changing color 19 

Japan Gold-size 19 

Japan brown 20 

Roughstuff 20 

Weight of liquids 22 

Rubbing coats 22 

Dark rich brown 22 

Painting Sleighs 23 

Priming 23 

Roughstuff 23 

Colors 24 

P. W. F. on wood and iron 24 

Rubbing 24 

Two coats of color 24 

Color-and-varnish 25 

Striping 25 

Gilding 25 

Varnishing 25 

Transfer pictures 25 

Color for sleighs 26 

To mix tints 27 

Artificial coral 27 

Painting old work 28 

General synopsis 28 

Color-and-varnish 30 



Page 

Gilding'Size 30 

How to keep paint brushes 31 

Oiling work 32 

Chamois skin 33 

P. W. F. on rosewood 33 

How to devise a new color 34 

The drying on of pumice-stone 34 

Japan Gold-size for gilding 35 

P. W. F. for brick work 36 

American vermilion 36 

Ultramarine 37 

Badlj^-chipped paint 37 

Sweating of varnish 40 

Cleaning varnish brushes 40 

Hot water 40 

Mixing varnishes 41 

Varnish brushes 41 

Varnishing Gold bronze 41 

Finishing varnish 42 

Keeping varnish brushes 43 

Varnishing in summer 43 

Rubbing cloths 43 

Per centages in mixing 44 

Staining oak graining 44 

Concealing old cracks 45 

A supei-ficial finish 45 

Cleanliness of the shop 46 

Repainting 48 

Prussian blue 48 

Painting Cheap Work 49 

Priming 49 

Roughstuff 49 

Putty 49 

Shop marks 49 

Burned places 50 

Rubbing 50 

P. W. F. over putty 50 

Lampblack 50 

Ivory Black 51 

Rubbing gears 51 

Flatting 51 

Finishing 52 

Hanging up 52 

Polishing varnish 52 

B. C. andV 53 

General rules 53 

The deviltries of cold weather 56 

The Hub Chart 56 

How to rub out runs 57 

Gold bronze 57 

Sandpapering, etc 58 



116 



INDEX. 



Page 

Prepared black 59 

Keeping cups 60 

Putty for glass frames 61 

Formula for mixing paint 61 

Cleanliness 62 

Old pigment 62 

Varnishing 63 

Gilding-size 63 

Priming 65 

Painting zinc 66 

Mixing varnishes 66 

Chinese vermihon 67 

Puttying 67 

Rubbing through 68 

White lead 68 

Prepared roughstuff 69 

Drying out 69 

Ground colors 70 

Cans for the bench 71 

Synopsis of American Method 72 

The deviltries of varnish 74 

Polishing a body 75 

The goods of several makers, etc ... 75 

Camel's-hair brushes 76 

Brushes 76 

Grinding pigments 77 

Extreme heat and cold 77 

Carmine 78 

Showering carriages 78 

Ultramarine 79 

Paint on Brougham body 80 

Water pails 80 

Light ground roughstuff 81 

Preparing for finishing 81 

When shall we varnish ? 83 

The last coat of varnish 84 

White lead 85 

Blue and yellow 86 

Blackboard paint 86 

Pouncing ornaments 87 

Elasticity on gears 87 

Brushes 88 

Striping color cups 88 i 



Page 

Paint Cups 89 

Dishes for fine colors 89 

Use of lead 89 

Picking out dust, etc 90 

Dusting off a job 90 

Foremen 91 

White work 92 

Paint chipping from springs 93 

Frost cracks 94 

Hard water 94 

Paris green 95 

Too much dryer 96 

Take care of the surface 96 

Paris green 97 

Imitation ground glass 97 

Painting floors 98 

Darkening of vermilion 98 

Harmony of colors . . 99 

Combining and mixing 99 

Rules for '' sweating " 101 

Varnishes 103 

Wearing Body Varnish 103 

Medium Drying Body Varnish . . 103 

Elastic Gear Varnish 103 

Elastic Leveling Varnish 104 

Quick Leveling Varnish 104 

Enameled Leather Varnish 104 

Railway Coach Finishing Var- 
nish 104 

Inside Coach Finishing Varnish. 105 

One-Coat Coach Varnish 105 

Hard-Drying Body Varnish 105 

Locomotive Varnish 106 

Cracking 106 

" Touching up " 106 

Specks in varnish 107 

Flies 107 

Hard wood finishing 107 

Inside fittings 108 

Choice of hair tools 108 

Sweating of Varnish Coats 108 

Painting a White Job Ill 

52 receipts for mixing colors 113 



ERRATA. 
On page 28, 6th line from bottom, for " give 16 hours," read give 6 hours. 




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